Ranjan Kumar Prusty

Socioeconomic Dynamics of Gender Disparity in Childhood Immunization in India, 1992–2006

Background Recent evidence indicated that gender disparity in child health is minimal and narrowed over time in India. However, considering the geographical and socio-cultural diversity in India, the gender gap may persist across disaggregated socioeconomic context which may be masked by average level. This study examines the dynamics of gender disparity in childhood immunization across regions, residence, wealth, caste and religion in India during 1992–2006. Method We used multi-waves of the cross-sectional data of National Family Health Survey conducted in India between 1992–93 and 2005–06. Gender disparity ratio was used to measure the gender gap in childhood immunization across the selected socioeconomic characteristics. Multinomial regression analysis was used to examine the gender gap after accounting for other covariates. Result Results indicate that, at aggregate level, gender disparity in full immunization is minimal and has stagnated during the study period. However, gender disparity – disfavouring female children – becomes apparent across the regions, poor households, and religion - particularly among Muslims. Adjusted gender disparity ratio indicates that, full immunization is lower among female than male children of the western region, poor household and among Muslims. Between 1992–93 and 2005–06, the disparity in full immunization had narrowed in the northern region whereas it had, astonishingly, increased in some of the western and southern states of the country. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the need to integrate gender issues in the ongoing immunization programme in India, with particular attention to urban areas, developed states, and to the Muslim community.

Utilization of maternal health care services and reproductive health complications in Assam, India

AimMaternal health services potentially play a significant role in improving reproductive health. Access to skilled assistance and well-equipped health institutions during delivery can reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and improve pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we examined the relationship between the use of maternal health care services and the frequency of reproductive health complications (during pregnancy, delivery and after delivery) in Assam.Subject and methodsWe used data from the third round of the District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS, 2007–2008) which collects information about reproductive and child health services. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to understand the relationship between the use of health care services and the frequency of complications in pregnancy.ResultsFindings show that more than half of women reported having any complication during pregnancy and delivery. Post delivery complications in Assam are reported less by women as compared to any pregnancy and delivery complications. It is also found statistically significant that women who received full antenatal care during pregnancy reported less complications during the delivery and post-partum period. We found a positive correlation in the study area between having any complication during pregnancy with higher reporting of any delivery and post-delivery complication.ConclusionThe study concludes that use of intensive health-care services reduces health complications. Therefore, it is necessary to improve community awareness on maternal health to motivate women to use more antenatal care services to reduce health complications during the reproductive time span.

Inequality in the Utilization of Maternal Healthcare Services in Odisha, India

Odisha, one of the socioeconomically disadvantaged states of India, registers high maternal deaths. The state features wide regional and sociodemographic diversity with the Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) districts, dominated by disadvantaged tribal population. This study aims to assess the level and pattern of maternal healthcare services utilization among different subgroups of women in Odisha with a special focus on the regional, economic, and educational inequality using the latest District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS-III, 2007-08). Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to understand the pattern of utilization of maternal healthcare services among women by different background characteristics. Concentration curve and decomposition analysis were used to understand the inequalities in utilization of maternal healthcare services and contribution of different socioeconomic factors. Results reveal wide regional variation in the utilization of maternal healthcare services. The utilization of maternal healthcare services is more concentrated among affluent households. Economic inequality in safe delivery is high. Decomposition analysis shows education as the leading contributor in explaining maternal healthcare services utilization. Enhancing literacy among women and improving of health infrastructure and its quality in rural and disadvantaged regions may be prioritized to improve the maternal health in Odisha.

Differentials in child nutrition and immunization among migrants and non-migrants in Urban India

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand disparities in child immunization and nutritional status among children by migration status in urban India. Design/methodology/approach – The study utilized third round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS, 2005-2006) data, which is the Indian version of Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were used to study the levels and factors associated with child nutrition and immunization by migration status. Findings – Results suggest that malnutrition and no immunization are very high among children of rural-urban migrants and full immunization is lower than urban non-migrants and urban-urban migrants. More than half of the children from marginalized households suffer from the problem of undernutrition among rural-urban migrants. Multivariate results show economic status, age of the mother, education, caste and media exposure are negatively associated with malnutrition and positively associated with immu...

Pattern of Self-perceived Health, Immobility and Hospitalization among Elderly in India

In this study, we examined the pattern of perceived health status, immobility, and hospitalization among elderly of India using 60 round of National Sample Survey data collected during 2004. Bivariate and multivariate analysis is used to understand the differentials and determinants of outcome variable among elderly of India. Result shows that age group, economic dependency, education, sex, and living arrangement play an important role in health status of elderly. The most common diseases elderly suffers from are eye ailments, cardiovascular diseases and joint pain as reported. Logistic regression result shows that age, sex, dependency and living arrangement as the most important factor affecting mobility and hospitalization of elderly. Indian elderly has a poor health status either in terms of self-assessed or mobility or hospitalization. Therefore, special attention to elderly particularly focusing on female, living alone, poor, 70+ aged and elderly of northern and eastern regions is required.