Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21
Background: Undernutrition remains a major public health concern in India, especially among children belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST). In this study, we analyse wealth inequalities in nutritional outcomes within ST communities in two tribal-dominated states of India, namely, Odisha and Jharkha...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Dialogues in Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653323000394 |
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| author | S. Rekha P. Shirisha V.R. Muraleedharan Girija Vaidyanathan Umakant Dash |
| author_facet | S. Rekha P. Shirisha V.R. Muraleedharan Girija Vaidyanathan Umakant Dash |
| author_sort | S. Rekha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Undernutrition remains a major public health concern in India, especially among children belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST). In this study, we analyse wealth inequalities in nutritional outcomes within ST communities in two tribal-dominated states of India, namely, Odisha and Jharkhand. The study also compares the trends in nutrition outcomes between ST and Non-ST children in these states. Methods: We have conducted a trend analysis of the prevalence and inequalities in the nutritional indicators among ST children under age five using unit-level data of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) [NFHS-3(2005–06),4 (2015–16) and 5(2019–2021)]. Wealth-related inequalities were analysed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII), which measures absolute inequality, and the relative Concentration Index (CIX), which measures relative inequality. We have also analysed the correlation between Antenatal Care (ANC) visits and nutritional indicators using the Pearson Correlation test. Results: The trend analysis shows that the prevalence of undernutrition remains higher among ST children in India as compared to Non-ST children between NFHS-3 (2005–06) and NFHS-5 (2019–2020) in Jharkhand and Odisha. The SII and CIX values show that statistically significant inequalities in stunting and underweight exist among children belonging to various wealth quintiles within the ST category in both states. Wasting is found to be significantly prevalent across all wealth quintiles. Also, we found a negative association between ANC visits and all three nutritional indicators. Interpretation: Our study highlights the importance of monitoring both the absolute and relative wealth inequalities in nutritional outcomes. This is due to the fact that while inequalities across groups may reduce, the prevalence of poor nutritional outcomes may increase among certain groups. Such observations, therefore, will enable policymakers to focus further on those groups and devise appropriate interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:30:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9cc6b52254c541b8ae79af6eb7c348c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-6533 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:30:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dialogues in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9cc6b52254c541b8ae79af6eb7c348c92023-06-24T05:20:16ZengElsevierDialogues in Health2772-65332023-12-012100135Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21S. Rekha0P. Shirisha1V.R. Muraleedharan2Girija Vaidyanathan3Umakant Dash4Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (DoHSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India; Corresponding author at: HSB-352, DoHSS, IIT Madras, Chennai 600036, India.Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (DoHSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, IndiaDepartment of Humanities and Social Sciences (DoHSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, IndiaDepartment of Humanities and Social Sciences (DoHSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, IndiaDepartment of Humanities and Social Sciences (DoHSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India; Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat, IndiaBackground: Undernutrition remains a major public health concern in India, especially among children belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST). In this study, we analyse wealth inequalities in nutritional outcomes within ST communities in two tribal-dominated states of India, namely, Odisha and Jharkhand. The study also compares the trends in nutrition outcomes between ST and Non-ST children in these states. Methods: We have conducted a trend analysis of the prevalence and inequalities in the nutritional indicators among ST children under age five using unit-level data of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) [NFHS-3(2005–06),4 (2015–16) and 5(2019–2021)]. Wealth-related inequalities were analysed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII), which measures absolute inequality, and the relative Concentration Index (CIX), which measures relative inequality. We have also analysed the correlation between Antenatal Care (ANC) visits and nutritional indicators using the Pearson Correlation test. Results: The trend analysis shows that the prevalence of undernutrition remains higher among ST children in India as compared to Non-ST children between NFHS-3 (2005–06) and NFHS-5 (2019–2020) in Jharkhand and Odisha. The SII and CIX values show that statistically significant inequalities in stunting and underweight exist among children belonging to various wealth quintiles within the ST category in both states. Wasting is found to be significantly prevalent across all wealth quintiles. Also, we found a negative association between ANC visits and all three nutritional indicators. Interpretation: Our study highlights the importance of monitoring both the absolute and relative wealth inequalities in nutritional outcomes. This is due to the fact that while inequalities across groups may reduce, the prevalence of poor nutritional outcomes may increase among certain groups. Such observations, therefore, will enable policymakers to focus further on those groups and devise appropriate interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653323000394Malnutrition, stunting, wastingUnderweightWealth inequalitiesTribal childrenJharkhandOdisha |
| spellingShingle | S. Rekha P. Shirisha V.R. Muraleedharan Girija Vaidyanathan Umakant Dash Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21 Dialogues in Health Malnutrition, stunting, wasting Underweight Wealth inequalities Tribal children Jharkhand Odisha |
| title | Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21 |
| title_full | Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21 |
| title_fullStr | Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21 |
| title_short | Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21 |
| title_sort | wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under 5 children in india a temporal trend analysis using nfhs data of jharkhand and odisha states 2006 21 |
| topic | Malnutrition, stunting, wasting Underweight Wealth inequalities Tribal children Jharkhand Odisha |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653323000394 |
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