Explaining gender disparity in child health in India: an inter state comparison

Santosh Jatrana, University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Department of Public Health

This study is the first of its kind to document and identify regional patterns of gender disparity for children (12-35 months) for states of India in health outcomes (complete vaccination coverage and nutritional status), using phase II of the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-2). Specifically this study has the following research aims: 1.To update the documentation of gender disparities in child health in different states of India; 2.To investigate regional variations in gender disparity in child health and to assess if a regional pattern of gender disparity in health outcomes exists; 3.To examine whether gender disparity in health outcomes is influenced by various socioeconomic and demographic factors? The study establishes a regional pattern of gender disparity. The findings challenge the growing body of literature which suggests that girls in South Asia are discriminated against in the provision of health care but are not neglected in nutritional allocations.