Caste and Socioeconomic Inequality in Child Health and Nutrition in India: Evidences from National Family Health Survey

Abstract

This study is on caste inequality in child health outcomes: mortality, malnutrition and anaemia for the year 1998/99 to year 2019/21 and examines the association of socio-economic factors with outcomes. Disparity ratio (DR) and Concentration Index (CI) are computed to examine inequality in outcomes. The association of socio-economic factors was modelled using logit regression. The study finds marginalised group were more likely to have poor health outcomes. The disparity ratio found increased among SC and ST compared to Others during 1998-99 and 2019-21. The value of the concentration index was found high on U5MR among SC and ST. Among SC and ST, the child health outcome greatly varies for poorest and richest. Odds ratio is 40-60 per cent higher for SC and ST compared to children belonging to Others. On socio-economic factors; land ownership and wealth status contribute significantly but house ownership not so. Caste-based inequality is still impacting health and nutrition of children in the country. The more focused inclusive policy and clustering of marginalised groups at regional level can be helpful in improving health and nutrition of marginalised children concentrated in different regions with equity lens to push the SDG Goals.

Keywords

• Caste, Land, Mortality, Malnutrition, SC/ST, SES.