The Lorenz curve is used to measure which of the following in health systems research?
- A Trend in crude death rates over time
- B Income inequality and its relation to health outcomes using the Gini coefficient ✓
- C The sensitivity and specificity trade-off for a diagnostic test
- D Distribution of disease burden across age groups
Correct answer: B. Income inequality and its relation to health outcomes using the Gini coefficient
Explanation
The Lorenz curve plots the cumulative share of income (or health resources) against the cumulative share of the population, ranked from poorest to richest. A perfectly equal distribution produces a straight 45° diagonal (line of perfect equality). The Gini coefficient is the ratio of the area between the Lorenz curve and the line of equality to the total area below the diagonal — a value of 0 indicates perfect equality, 1 indicates maximal inequality. It is used in health equity research to quantify socioeconomic disparities.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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