DECOMPOSING SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN IMMUNIZATION RATES IN UTTAR PRADESH AND ITS REGIONS
Abstract
Background: Despite the relentless efforts to increase immunization rates, major disparities still exist in immunization coverage across population sub-groups. The plight of immunization could be largely improved if the total... [ view full abstract ]
Background: Despite the relentless efforts to increase immunization rates, major disparities still exist in immunization coverage across population sub-groups. The plight of immunization could be largely improved if the total population had the same coverage. This paper tries to understand the situation of immunization coverage in different regions of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of the country.
Methods: For this analysis, data from District Level Health Survey (2007–2008) is used. Techniques used are multivariate logistic regression and decomposition of the concentration index (CI).
Results: Immunization in children aged 12-23 months in UP (30%) is far behind the national average (54%). Differentials can be seen within state too. Full immunization is highest in Eastern Region. Highest coverage is witnessed for BCG and lowest for DPT3 vaccines. 67% children aged 12-23 months in whole India and 40 % children in UP get full Polio vaccines. We find that the household’s economic background, parental education and regional variations are the most important contributors to inequality in immunization rates. The CI value for a child not fully immunized is -0.242 at the state level which indicates that immunization practice favors children from relatively wealthier families. CI is found to be -0.302 in Central Region indicating that in this region not only level of immunization is low, inequality is also very high.
Conclusions: Vaccination was less likely in lower than in higher income households. Regional variations are evident too. Widespread differentials in child immunization pose an intimidating challenge to India’s public health agenda.
Authors
-
Ankita Shukla
(International Institute for Population Sciences,)
-
Abhishek Kumar
(International Institute for Population Sciences,)
Topic Area
V. Healthcare Service 5.1 Accessibility of healthcare services and its optimization 5.2 He
Session
PS-3 » POSTER SESSION 3 (12:15 - Sunday, 3rd April, TBA)
Paper
immunization-paper.docx
Presentation Files
The presenter has not uploaded any presentation files.