Towards a Measure of Multidimensional Poverty in COVID-19 Time in Senegal: Identification of Risk Factors and Vulnerable People

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to design a multidimensional poverty index, based on the Alkire-Foster (AF) method, to identify people vulnerable to COVID-19 and risk factors. The use of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) dataset has led to the choice of the following dimensions: Education, Hygiene, Staying at home, Physical distance, and recovery capacity. Each dimension is composed of indicators found in the global multidimensional poverty index. The findings show that 61.4% of Senegalese are vulnerable to COVID-19 because they suffer deprivation in at least a third of the indicators. Also, among the vulnerable 47.05% are poor according to the wealth index. The deprivation in electricity, housing, sanitation, and cooking fuel are the most important risk factors in the Senegalese context. The regions located in the South and East are those where the populations are more vulnerable. However, the number of confirmed cases is higher in the northern and western regions where there are fewer vulnerable people. In these regions, the greatest risk factor is promiscuity. Difficulty in observing physical and social distance and having a suitable living environment are major factors of vulnerability to emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 in a developing country like Senegal.