Introductory training

D-Index and barriers

For the purpose of comparability, the D-Index has been adapted so that the value of a barrier (e.g. childhood stunting) still has the same interpretation as that of an opportunity: the lower the D-index the lower the inequality. In general, the D-Index measures the distribution of a positive outcome. Stunting is not a positive outcome, but rather a barrier for a child’s development prospects. To calculate the D-Index for this barrier, while keeping the same interpretation as for other positively defined indicators (opportunities), the absence of stunting is first calculated. The remaining calculations follow the same formula, using the access rate of the “absence of stunting” in place of “stunting”.