Shirisha P hs17d010 | IIT Madras (original) (raw)
My areas of interests are health inequalities, child malnutrition, health of indigenous people, health technology assessment
less
Uploads
Papers by Shirisha P hs17d010
BMC, 2022
Background: Child and maternal malnutrition are the most serious health risks in India, accountin... more Background: Child and maternal malnutrition are the most serious health risks in India, accounting for 15% of the country's total disease burden. Malnutrition in children can manifest as 'stunting' (low height in relation to age) or 'wasting' (low weight in relation to height) or both and underweight or obesity among women. Other nutritional indicators show that India lags behind, with high levels of anaemia in women of reproductive age. The study aims to analyse the wealth related inequalities in the nutrition status among women and children of different wealth quintiles in a high focus state (Chhattisgarh; CG) and a non-high focus state (Tamil Nadu; TN) in India. Methods: We used National Family Health Survey-3rd (2005-06) & 4th (2015-16) to study the trends and differentials of inequalities in the nutrition status. We have used two summary indices.-absolute inequalities using the slope index of inequality (SII), and relative inequalities using the concentration index (CIX). Results: There is reduction in wealth related inequality in nutrition status of women and children from all wealth quintiles between 2005-06 and 2015-16. However the reduction in inequality in some cases such as that of severe stunting among children was accompanied by increase among children from better off households The values of SII and CIX imply that malnutrition except obesity is still concentrated among the poor. The prevalence of anaemia (mild, moderate and severe) has reduced among women and children in the past decade. The converging pattern observed with respect to prevalence of mild and moderate anaemia is not only due to reduction in prevalence of anaemia among women from poor households but an increase in prevalence in rich households. Conclusion: Malnutrition remains a major challenge in India, despite encouraging progress in maternal and nutrition outcomes over the last decade. Our study findings indicate the importance of looking at the change in inequalities of nutrition status of women and children of different wealth quintiles sub nationally. Given the country's rapidly changing malnutrition profile, with progress across several indicators of under nutrition but rapidly rising rates of overweight/obesity, particularly among adults, appropriate strategies needs to be devised to tackle the double burden of malnutrition.
The article is aimed to assess trends in wealth-related inequalities in coverage of reproductive,... more The article is aimed to assess trends in wealth-related inequalities in coverage of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health (RMNCH) interventions using delivery channels framework in Indian context, at national level as well as at state level-Tamil Nadu (TN) and Chhattisgarh (CG)-a better off and poorer state, respectively. We used National Family Health Survey-3rd (2005-2006) and 4th (2015-2016) to study the trends and differentials of inequalities in the RMNCH coverage. We have used two summary indices-absolute inequalities using the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative inequalities using the concentration index (CIX). Culturally driven interventions had pro-poor inequalities in TN, CG and in India, but the coverage has improved significantly for the women from wealthier households recently. Environmental interventions were highly inequal in distribution, particularly for the 'use of clean fuels'. Inequalities in the coverage of health facilities-based interventions has reduced in TN, CG and overall India, but more so in TN. The inequalities in coverage of community-based interventions have reduced over the period of ten years in TN, CG as well as at national level. Adopting RMNCH delivery channel framework could be useful for assessing and monitoring the progress of public health programmes. Policy makers can gain insights from the success of coverage of various interventions and determine specific implementation strategies to reduce inequalities in the coverage and its effectiveness.
BMC, 2022
Background: Child and maternal malnutrition are the most serious health risks in India, accountin... more Background: Child and maternal malnutrition are the most serious health risks in India, accounting for 15% of the country's total disease burden. Malnutrition in children can manifest as 'stunting' (low height in relation to age) or 'wasting' (low weight in relation to height) or both and underweight or obesity among women. Other nutritional indicators show that India lags behind, with high levels of anaemia in women of reproductive age. The study aims to analyse the wealth related inequalities in the nutrition status among women and children of different wealth quintiles in a high focus state (Chhattisgarh; CG) and a non-high focus state (Tamil Nadu; TN) in India. Methods: We used National Family Health Survey-3rd (2005-06) & 4th (2015-16) to study the trends and differentials of inequalities in the nutrition status. We have used two summary indices.-absolute inequalities using the slope index of inequality (SII), and relative inequalities using the concentration index (CIX). Results: There is reduction in wealth related inequality in nutrition status of women and children from all wealth quintiles between 2005-06 and 2015-16. However the reduction in inequality in some cases such as that of severe stunting among children was accompanied by increase among children from better off households The values of SII and CIX imply that malnutrition except obesity is still concentrated among the poor. The prevalence of anaemia (mild, moderate and severe) has reduced among women and children in the past decade. The converging pattern observed with respect to prevalence of mild and moderate anaemia is not only due to reduction in prevalence of anaemia among women from poor households but an increase in prevalence in rich households. Conclusion: Malnutrition remains a major challenge in India, despite encouraging progress in maternal and nutrition outcomes over the last decade. Our study findings indicate the importance of looking at the change in inequalities of nutrition status of women and children of different wealth quintiles sub nationally. Given the country's rapidly changing malnutrition profile, with progress across several indicators of under nutrition but rapidly rising rates of overweight/obesity, particularly among adults, appropriate strategies needs to be devised to tackle the double burden of malnutrition.
The article is aimed to assess trends in wealth-related inequalities in coverage of reproductive,... more The article is aimed to assess trends in wealth-related inequalities in coverage of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health (RMNCH) interventions using delivery channels framework in Indian context, at national level as well as at state level-Tamil Nadu (TN) and Chhattisgarh (CG)-a better off and poorer state, respectively. We used National Family Health Survey-3rd (2005-2006) and 4th (2015-2016) to study the trends and differentials of inequalities in the RMNCH coverage. We have used two summary indices-absolute inequalities using the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative inequalities using the concentration index (CIX). Culturally driven interventions had pro-poor inequalities in TN, CG and in India, but the coverage has improved significantly for the women from wealthier households recently. Environmental interventions were highly inequal in distribution, particularly for the 'use of clean fuels'. Inequalities in the coverage of health facilities-based interventions has reduced in TN, CG and overall India, but more so in TN. The inequalities in coverage of community-based interventions have reduced over the period of ten years in TN, CG as well as at national level. Adopting RMNCH delivery channel framework could be useful for assessing and monitoring the progress of public health programmes. Policy makers can gain insights from the success of coverage of various interventions and determine specific implementation strategies to reduce inequalities in the coverage and its effectiveness.