Abstract
To our knowledge, the present study provides a first time assessment of the contributions of socioeconomic determinants of immunization coverage in India using the recent National Family Health Survey data. Measurement of socioeconomic inequalities in health and health care, and understanding the determinants of such inequalities in terms of their contributions, are critical for health intervention strategies and for achieving equity in health care. A decomposition approach is applied to quantify the contributions from socio-demographic factors to inequality in immunization coverage. The results reveal that poor household economic status, mother's illiteracy, per capita state domestic product and proportion of illiterate at the state level is systematically related to 97% of predictable socioeconomic inequalities in full immunization coverage at the national level. These patterns of evidence suggest the need for immunization strategies targeted at different states and towards certain socioeconomic determinants as pointed out above in order to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in immunization coverage.JEL Classification: I10, I12
Highlights
The distributive dimension of health or health inequality has become prominent on global health policy agenda, as researchers have come to regard average health status as an inadequate summary of country’s health performance [1]
47 percent of the children belong to poor household economic status, and a similar proportion of children have mothers who are illiterate
Decomposition results reveal that poor household economic status, mother’s illiteracy, state domestic product and level of illiteracy at the state level contribute with about 97 percent of the total socioeconomic inequalities in full immunization coverage at the national level
Summary
The distributive dimension of health or health inequality has become prominent on global health policy agenda, as researchers have come to regard average health status as an inadequate summary of country’s health performance [1]. While many cross sectional studies have been performed, relatively little evidence is available regarding how socioeconomic inequalities in health have changed over time as the development process unfolded and levels of urbanization rose, women’s educational attainment improved, infrastructure spread, and income and wealth increased; In developing countries, gaps in health-related outcomes between the rich and the poor are large [3,4,5,6,7]. These gaps limit poor peoples’ potential to contribute to the economy by reducing their capacity to function and live life to the fullest - and even to survive. These variables have previously been identified as powerful sources of health inequalities in low and middle income countries [8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
