Gopal BISWAS, INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES KOLKATA (IDSK), India
Subrata MUKHERJEE, INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES KOLKATA (IDSK), India
Background: Since the 1990s, India has witnessed rapid economic growth and improvements in health care sectors. However, under-nutrition among children is still very high in India, also has a disproportionate burden of under-five child mortality. Literature abounds us with the evidence that economic indicators are found to have a mixed effect on child health status. Another set of the literature indicated the spatial pattern of health indicators, suggesting locational influence.
Methods: This paper aims to examine the locational effect on the relation between undernutrition and the level of economic activities. The study is a secondary quantitative data analysis, based on National Family health survey-4, Census 2011, and DMSP- OLS Night-time lights. Prevalence of Stunting, wasting and underweight, and other confounding variables are estimated at the district level. Spatial lag models have been used assuming that the dependent variable's dependency existed directly among the districts.
Results: Strong and positive Moran's I values suggesting clustering of high-high prevalence or hotspots and low-low prevalence of cold spot districts. The models do not show any significant association of the level of economic activities with child health indicators. The significant and positive values of the spatial interaction term (Rho) across all spatial lag models indicated the inherent spatial dependence in child health outcomes on districts by their neighboring districts.
Conclusion: The nutritional status of children in India is alarmingly poor and is a cause of major concern. The study did not find any consistent evidence of the level of economic activity affecting any form of undernutrition. Locational factors also have shown a strong influence on child undernutrition indicators. More emphasis should be given at district levels instead of state-specific interventions to reach Zero Hunger (SDG2), especially in high-high clustering districts.
Mots clés : Undernutrition|under-five children|India|Nighttime lights|location
A104157GB