Socioeconomic Disparity and Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases: Analysis of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India using a Decomposition Approach.

Abstract

Many countries prioritize health-related research and policy around socioeconomic inequality. In India, data on socioeconomic disparity and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are limited. The study provides empirical information on socioeconomic disparities in NCD risk factors in India as part of a preventative and policy initiative. The study used nationally representative data from wave 1 of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India which adopted a multistage random sampling design. To achieve the objectives of the study, binary logistic regression was used to demonstrate the association between socioeconomic status and NCD risk factors, and further analysis was conducted employing the decomposition method approach using STATA 14 software to assess socioeconomic disparity. Concentration Indices (CIs) revealed that overweight/obesity (CI = 0.157) was more prevalent among the nonpoor, whereas smoking (CI = -0.067) and alcohol consumption (CI = -0.014) were more prevalent among the poor. Wealth status was identified as the primary contributor to socioeconomic inequality for all of the risk factors of NCDs. Education was also the leading cause of socioeconomic inequality with respect to alcohol, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. Identifying the specific needs of impoverished and nonpoor populations is necessary for addressing NCD risk factors and inequalities. It is essential to implement interventions that address the underlying social determinants of health and promote health equality to reduce the burden of NCDs and enhance health outcomes for all.