Tobacco Use, Food Insecurity, and Low BMI in India's Older Population.

Background: Underweight is a prevalent condition among older adults in developing countries and poses a substantial burden on health, social, and aged-care systems. In this study, we examined the influence of tobacco use and food insecurity on the risk of being underweight among adults aged 60 or older in India.

Methods: We used data from the 2017-2018 Longitudinal Aging Study in India.

Does club convergence matter in health outcomes? Evidence from Indian states.

Background: Population health is vital to a nation's overall well-being and development. To achieve sustainable human development, a reduction in health inequalities and an increase in interstate convergence in health indicators is necessary. Evaluation of the convergence patterns can aid the government in monitoring the health progress across the Indian states.

Identifying the impact of social isolation and loneliness on psychological well-being among the elderly in old-age homes of India: the mediating role of gender, marital status, and education.

Background: Social isolation and loneliness can be detrimental to the overall functioning of the older adults. The study examines the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the psychological well-being of older adults residing in various old-age homes in India and investigates the mediating role of gender, marital status, and education level in the way social isolation and loneliness affect psychological well-being.

Methods: Data has been collected from 320 individuals aged sixty years or above.

Assessing reduction in multidimensional childhood poverty in India: a decomposition analysis.

Background: Empirically, the official measurement of multidimensional poverty often shows children as the poorest age group. According to Global Multidimensional Poverty Index report, Africa and South Asia bear the highest burden multidimensional child poverty (MCP). Around one-third of children aged 0-4 are multidimensionally poor in India.

Impact of social isolation and leisure activities on cognition and depression: A study on middle-aged and older adults in India.

Introduction: Recent studies highlight the negative impact of social isolation and involvement in leisure activities on enhanced well-being of individuals. However, there is dearth of evidence on relationship between social isolation and leisure activities on cognitive abilities and depression of older adults in the Indian context. The paper reports the impact of social isolation and leisure activities on cognitive functioning and depression of older adults.

Living arrangement of Indian elderly: a predominant predictor of their level of life satisfaction.

Objective: This article aims to examine the level of life satisfaction (LS) among Indian older adults and to determine whether their living arrangement is one of the potential determinants of their level of LS.

Methods: Data was drawn from the first and most recent wave of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India conducted in 2017-18. Using the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the level of LS was assessed for 30,370 elderly aged 60 + .

Does club convergence matter? Empirical evidence on inequality in the human development index among Indian states.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is recognised as the most commonly used composite index to assess the socio-economic progress of a country. To preserve its pioneering role in development, there has to be a reduction in inequalities and cross-state convergence by adding a sustainable dimension. This paper investigates the convergence hypothesis for the HDI in 36 Indian states and union territories (UTs) from 1990 to 2019.

Prevalence and correlates of multidimensional child poverty in India during 2015-2021: A multilevel analysis.

Despite increasing research and programs to eradicate poverty, poverty still exists and is a far greater concern for children than adults, leading child poverty to become a political, economic, and social issue worldwide and in India. The current study aims to find variations in the prevalence of child poverty and associated factors in India during 2015-21. In the current study, we used two consecutive rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4, 2015-16 & NFHS-5, 2019-21) to estimate child poverty (aged 0-59 months) using the Alkire-Foster method.

Hospitalization & health expenditure in Odisha: Evidence from National Sample Survey (1995-2014).

Background & Objectives: Financing healthcare services through out-of-pocket payments is common in India. Household impoverishments due to health expenditure can be daunting, especially among the economically vulnerable households. This study investigated hospitalization and patient's health expenditure in Odisha State in India.

A combination of moderate and vigorous physical activities reduces the burden of multimorbidity: findings from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India.

Background: Physical inactivity is a significant factor contributing to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The objective of this study is to examine the association between physical activity and multimorbidity among Indian adults aged 45 years and above by residence.

Methods: Data from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) 2017-2018, wave 1, a nationally representative study, are used to examine the above objective.

Uneven burden of multidimensional poverty in India: A caste based analysis.

Poverty is multifaceted. The global poverty profile shows 41% of multidimensionally poor people living in South Asian countries. Though castes and tribes are a more prevalent line of social stratification in India, and their socio-economic characteristics also vary remarkably, hardly any study has explored these dimensions while analysing multidimensional poverty in India.

Uneven economic burden of non-communicable diseases among Indian households: A comparative analysis.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading global cause of death and disproportionately concentrate among those living in low-income and middle-income countries. However, its economic impact on households remains less well known in the Indian context. This study aims to assess the economic impact of NCDs in terms of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and its catastrophic impact on NCDs affected households in India.

Age-appropriate feeding practices and their association with undernutrition among children aged 6-23 months in aspirational districts of India: a multinomial analysis.

'Health and nutrition' is one among the five areas covered by the Aspirational District Programme in India, which aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The reduction of undernutrition in under-five children has remained a major focus of the SDGs, especially at the ages of 6-23 months as this affects child development. This study used National Family Health Survey 2015-16 data to examine appropriate feeding practices and their associations with undernutrition among children aged 6-23 months in the 124 aspirational districts of India.

Measuring catastrophe in paying for healthcare: A comparative methodological approach by using National Sample Survey, India.

Healthcare expenditure significantly varies among various segments of the population. The appropriate measures of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) will help to unravel the real burden of spending among households. Present study provides a link between the theoretical insights from Grossman's model and various methodological approaches for the estimation of CHE by using data from the three rounds of nationally representative Consumer Expenditure Surveys, India.

Does choice of health care facility matter? Assessing out-of-pocket expenditure and catastrophic spending on emergency obstetric care in India.

The key recommendation of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood programme was the provision of Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) for the prevention of maternal mortality, especially in developing countries like India. The objectives of this paper were three-fold: to examine the socioeconomic differentials in mean out-of-pocket expenditure on EmOC in public and private health care facilities in India; to evaluate the catastrophic health expenditure of households at the threshold levels of 5% and 10%; and finally, to assess the effects of various socioeconomic and demographic covariates on the levels of catastrophic health expenditure on EmOC. Data were extracted from the 71st round of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) survey conducted in India between January and June 2014.

Does affordability matter? Examining the trends and patterns in health care expenditure in India.

Background: Absence of better financing mechanism results in higher out of pocket expenditure and catastrophe, which leads to impoverishment and poverty especially among low- and middle-income countries like India. This paper examines the major characteristics associated with the higher out of pocket expenditure and provides an insight from Andersen's behavioural model that how predisposing, enabling and need factors influence the level and pattern of out of pocket expenditure in India.

Methods: Data has been extracted from three rounds of nationally representative consumer expenditure surveys, i.

Reproductive health care status of the displaced tribal women in India: An analysis using Nussbaum Central human capabilities.

Scheduled Tribes (STs) of India are characterized by distinct cultures and a close relationship with the land they inhabit. Tribal people make up to 5% of the world's population but 15% of such people are living in poverty. They face deprivations caused by social, economic, and political exclusion.

Using Three Delay Model to Understand the Social Factors Responsible for Neonatal Deaths Among Displaced Tribal Communities in India.

In the tribal region, risk of death among neonates is influenced to a great extent by factors related to the mother such as situation of the mother prior to and post pregnancy, care received before, during and after pregnancy, birth order, and care received by the child during the first few years of his/her life. There is paucity of basic epidemiological data on reproductive health outcomes of displaced people (Hynes et al. in JAMA 288(5):595-603, 2002).

Does spending matters? Re-looking into various covariates associated with Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) and catastrophic spending on accidental injury from NSSO 71st round data.

Background: Accidental Injury is a traumatic event which not only influences physical, psychological, and social wellbeing of the households but also exerts extensive financial burden on them. Despite the devastating economic burden of injuries, in India, there is limited data available on injury epidemiology. This paper aims to, first, examine the socio-economic differentials in Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on accidental injury; second, to look into the level of Catastrophic Health Expenditure (CHE) at different threshold levels; and last, to explore the adjusted effect of various socio-economic covariates on the level of CHE.

Do we provide affordable, accessible and administrable health care? An assessment of SES differential in out of pocket expenditure on delivery care in India.

Background: Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) financing is a key area of focus which can lead towards an overall empowerment of women through financial inclusion. The major objectives of this paper are: first; to examine the socio-economic differentials in Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on delivery care, second; to look into the role of insurance coverage, third; to analyse various sources of financing, and fourth; to measure the adjusted effect of various covariates on the level of OOPE.

Methods: Data were extracted from the National Sample Survey Organisations (NSSO), 71st round "Key indicators of social consumption in India, Health" conducted by the GoI during January to June 2014.

Does equity in healthcare spending exist among Indian states? Explaining regional variations from national sample survey data.

Background: Equity and justice in healthcare payment form an integral part of health policy and planning. In the majority of low and middle-income countries (LMICs), healthcare inequalities are further aggravated by Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). This paper examines the pattern of health equity and regional disparities in healthcare spending among Indian states by applying Andersen's behavioural model of healthcare utilization.

Estimating financial resources for universal access to sexual reproductive health care: Evidence from two states in India.

Unlabelled: India has made insignificant progress towards achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). One of the key inputs for achieving universal access to SRH is financial resources. Given this, many international agencies including the UN are emphasising on monitoring the financial progress towards achieving SRH.

SIBLING- AND FAMILY-LEVEL CLUSTERING OF UNDERWEIGHT CHILDREN IN NORTHERN INDIA.

Child undernutrition remains a major child health and developmental issue in low- and middle-income countries. The concentration (clustering) of underweight children among siblings at the family level is known to exist in India. This study examined the extent and covariates of clustering of underweight children at the sibling and family level in Uttar Pradesh, the largest state of northern India.