Leaving no child behind: decomposing socioeconomic inequalities in child health for India and South Africa
SOURCE: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): O.A.Alaba, C.Hongoro, A.Thulare, A.T.Lukwa
KEYWORDS: CHILD HEALTH, FOOD INSECURITY, INDIA, INEQUALITIES, MALNUTRITION
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 12057
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/16131
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/16131
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): O.A.Alaba, C.Hongoro, A.Thulare, A.T.Lukwa
KEYWORDS: CHILD HEALTH, FOOD INSECURITY, INDIA, INEQUALITIES, MALNUTRITION
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 12057
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/16131
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/16131
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development argues for the combating of health inequalities within and among countries, advocating for 'leaving no one behind'. However, child mortality in developing countries is still high and mainly driven by lack of immunization, food insecurity and nutritional deficiency. The confounding problem is the existence of socioeconomic inequalities among the richest and poorest. Thus, comparing South Africa's and India's Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 2015/16, this study examines socioeconomic inequalities in under-five children's health and its associated factors using three child health indications: full immunization coverage, food insecurity and malnutrition. Methods: Erreygers Normalized concentration indices were computed to show how immunization coverage, food insecurity and malnutrition in children varied across socioeconomic groups (household wealth). Concentration curves were plotted to show the cumulative share of immunization coverage, food insecurity and malnutrition against the cumulative share of children ranked from poorest to richest. Subsequent decomposition analysis identified vital factors underpinning the observed socioeconomic inequalities. Results: The results confirm a strong socioeconomic gradient in food security and malnutrition in India and South Africa. However, while full childhood immunization in South Africa was pro-poor (0.0236), in India, it was pro-rich (0.1640). Decomposed results reported socioeconomic status, residence, mothers education, and mothers age as primary drivers of health inequalities in full immunization, food security and nutrition among children in both countries. Conclusions: The main drivers of the socioeconomic inequalities in both countries across the child health outcomes (full immunization, food insecurity and malnutrition) are socioeconomic status, residence, mothers education, and mothers age. In conclusion, if socioeconomic inequalities in childrens health especially food insecurity and malnutrition in South Africa; food insecurity, malnutrition and immunization in India are not addressed then definitely 'some under-five children will be left behind'.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity and its associated factors among a sample of university students in India
- Informal finance in the informal economy: promoting decent work among the working poor
- Attitudes towards HIV-antibody testing and people with AIDS among university students in India, South Africa and United States
- On conservative participation - discussion on S. Tawa Lama-Rewal and M.H. Zerah's "middle class" mobilisation in Delhi and Mumbai
- Administered prices study on economic inputs: water sector: final report
- Skeletons at the feast: a review of street homelessness in South Africa and other world regions
- Inside Indian indenture: a South African story, 1860-1914
- Upping the ante in Africa: India's increasing footprint across the continent
- Industrial policy in South Africa and India in the context of financialization: the case of the stainless steel industry
- Subjective happiness and health behavior among a sample of university students in India
- Prevalence of health behaviors and their associated factors among a sample of university students in India
- Common risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases among older adults in China, Ghana, Mexico, India, Russia and South Africa: the study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) wave 1
- Prevalence of loss of all teeth (edentulism) and associated factors in older adults in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa
- Universal health coverage in emerging economies: findings on health care utilization by older adults in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa
- Prevalence of loss of all teeth (edentulism) and associated factors in older adults in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa
- Prevalence, circumstances and consequences of non-fatal road traffic injuries and other bodily injuries among older people in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa
- Lifetime spousal violence victimization and perpetration, physical illness, and health risk behaviours among women in India
- Social and psychological predictors of body mass index among South Africans 15 years and older: SANHANES-1
- The killing fields: Marikana and the justice deficit
- Delhi's public health crisis and the neglect of urbanisation