The Prevalence and Correlates of Multidimensional Poverty: A Survey Analysis of District Charsadda

This study estimates the prevalence rate of multidimensional poverty, and determines its socio-economic determinants through survey of Behram Dheri, a Union Council of district Charsadda. The prevalence and severity of multidimensional poverty has been estimated through Alkire-Foster approach having ten indicators of multidimensional poverty. Whereas, binary-logit model has been employed to determine the impact of contributory determinants of poverty on multidimensional poverty. In result it is concluded that the incidence of poverty is 0.842 which interprets that about 84% of the households are multidimensionally-poor in the study area. However, the intensity of poverty is 0.559 which implies that at average a household is deprived in almost 56% of the indicators in UC Behram Dheri. Finally it has been concluded that the prevalence rate of the multi-dimensional poverty index is 0.4712. The logistic regression model results show that the non-ownership of agricultural land and livestock and households headed by female are more vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. Moreover the results also concluded that people who are dwelling in nuclear family are less vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. It is also calculated that the families which have more dependent members have direct relation with multidimensional poverty. On the basis of results, it is recommended to implement anti-poverty programs, combined with quality education, training, and awareness at the grass-roots level, will undoubtedly ensure rural households' socio-economic empowerment.