Veena S. Kulkarni

English Language Proficiency Among the Foreign Born in the United States, 1980–2007: Duration, Age, Cohort Effects

This study employs pooled data from the 1980 through 2000 censuses and 2001 through 2007 American Community Survey data to study English language proficiency among foreign-born in a dynamic framework. Our findings show continuing significance of duration of stay and age at migration and declining English language proficiency across successive cohorts. Additionally, analysis enabled by availability of single-year data from 2000 to 2007 indicates acquisition of language proficiency as steepest during first 9 years upon arrival and for migrating age group 6–17. Further, we find significant differences by education, regions of origin, racial groups, and by regions of residence.

“Double Burden of Malnutrition” Reexamining the Coexistence of Undernutrition and Overweight Among Women in India

India has one of the highest rates of underweight burden, with signs of rising obesity. Coexistence of underweight and overweight persons is symptomatic of the “double burden of malnutrition.” The present study throws new light on the “double burden of malnutrition” among Indian women in the age group 22–49 years. The analysis is based on a nationally representative household survey, India Human Development Survey. Our results indicate the continuing pattern of socioeconomic segregation of underweight and overweight/obese women, with a large concentration of underweight women among the low socioeconomic group and of overweight/obese women among the high socioeconomic group. Further, relative food prices of food items like cereals and vegetables are significantly associated with the risk of being underweight and overweight/obese. Additionally, we find notable rural/urban differences. The relationship between socioeconomic factors and the probability of being underweight and overweight/obese is stronger in urban than in rural areas. Given that the health implications of being underweight and overweight/obese are equally grim, provision of healthy food items at affordable prices and implementation of programs for preventive and curative care of plausible illnesses related to underweight and overweight/obese are imperative.

Correlates of self-rated health status in the context of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka owing to its high levels of achievements in arena of social indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rate or school enrollment rate relative to its income levels poses a paradox in the developing world. There is however near non-existent research examining correlates of self-rated health status in Sri Lanka. Self-rated health status has been accepted as a valid predictor of physical well- being and mortality. Present study, by investigating relative roles of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health care utilization pattern and level of satisfaction with the health care services in predicting self-rated health status in Sri Lanka, contributes to the growing literature on assessing subjective health measures in the context of developing countries. The analyses employ World Health Survey (WHS) data collected and disseminated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHS was conducted in 2002-2003 for 69 countries and the data for the various countries was made available at varying points after the year 2006. The dependent variable, self–rated health status is a three pronged categorical variable, ‘very good/good’, ‘moderate’, ‘bad/very bad’. The independent variables are measures of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, health service utilization and level of satisfaction with health care services. The multivariate regression model employs the ordinal logistic technique and is estimated using maximum likelihood. Findings suggest that while ‘traditional’ factors like age, gender, education are important, access to modern types of cooking fuel and level of satisfaction with the health care system are significant. With respect to educational attainment, the greatest change in self-rated health status occurs when educational status changes from ‘primary school not completed’ to ‘primary school completed’. Also, individuals who utilized health services most recently are more likely to perceive their health as ‘moderate’ or ‘bad/very bad’ relative to ‘very good/good’ implying a correlation between objective and subjective health assessments. Further, estimates indicate that independent variables are more significantly associated with the change between self-rated health status categories of ‘moderate’ versus ‘good/very good’ status rather than between ‘very bad/bad’ versus ‘moderate’. Programs encouraging people to complete primary schooling, improve access to modern types of fuel and enhance quality of health care system will help in improving levels of self-rated health status.

Double Burden of Malnutrition: Why are Indian Women Likely to Be Underweight and Obese?

Abstract India has one of the highest underweight burdens in the world, with signs of rising obesity. Coexistence of underweight and overweight women is symptomatic of the double burden of malnutrition. The present study aims to throw new light on the double burden of malnutrition among Indian women in the age group 22-49 years. The analysis is based on a nationally representative household survey, India Human Development Survey, 2005. The results indicate that the factors underlying this burden include socio-economic status (SES), location, marital status, age, education, physical activity, media exposure, and dietary composition and frequency of eating. We find that there is a socio-economic patterning of underweight and overweight women, with a large concentration of underweight women among those with a low SES and of overweight women among high SES. Given that the health implications of being underweight and overweight are grim, it is imperative that there is a simultaneous increase in the focus on the health needs of overweight and obese people and on the needs of the large number of severely undernourished people in society. For Indian women, the glaring health/nutrition disparities are matched only by the grimness of their existence and survival prospects.