Wealth inequalities in nutritional status among the tribal under-5 children in India: A temporal trend analysis using NFHS data of Jharkhand and Odisha states - 2006-21.

Background: Undernutrition remains a major public health concern in India, especially among children belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST). In this study, we analyse wealth inequalities in nutritional outcomes within ST communities in two tribal-dominated states of India, namely, Odisha and Jharkhand. The study also compares the trends in nutrition outcomes between ST and Non-ST children in these states.

Exploring the paradox of Muslim advantage in undernutrition among under-5 children in India: a decomposition analysis.

Background: While there is a substantial body of research on inequalities in child nutrition along the axes of gender and socioeconomic gradient, the socio-religious differences in health and nutrition outcomes remain grossly understudied. The handful of studies on the socio-religious differential in child health outcomes has found a Muslim advantage in chances of survival and nutritional status over Hindus despite their comparatively lower socioeconomic status, which undeniably warrants investigating the pathways through which this paradoxical Muslim advantage manifests.

Methods: Using data from the National Family Health Survey, 2015-16, we quantify the inter-group differentials in child undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight) between Muslims and caste-disaggregated Hindus.

Role of seasonality variation in prevalence and trend of childhood wasting in India: An empirical analysis using National Family Health Surveys, 2005-2021.

Background: Wasting develops over a short period and can be reversed with short-term interventions. The prevalence of wasting typically varies from season to season-becoming higher during the monsoon (June to September) season as compared to the winter (October to January) and summer (February to May) seasons every year in a cyclical fashion. However, to the best of our knowledge, using nationally representative demographic surveys to extensively study the impact of the timing of the survey on the results and trends around wasting has not been done so far.

Wealth related inequality in women and children malnutrition in the state of Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

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.

Sterilization incentives and associated regret among ever married women in India, NFHS, 2015-16.

Objective: Sterilization is the only family planning method that involves relatively large amount compensation. So, the study attempts to examine the role of incentives received against the sterilization procedures on the reporting of sterilization regret in India.

Methods: The study used data from the fourth round of National Family Health Survey, 2015-16, which gathered the information on sterilization regret from 1,94,207 ever-married women.

Role of maternal and child health services on the uptake of contraceptive use in India: A reproductive calendar approach.

Background: According to the latest round of National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS (2015-16)) maternal and child health care (MCH) services improved drastically compared to NFHS-3. Previous studies have established that the uptake of MCH services increases the likelihood of early adoption of contraceptives among women. So, our study aims to examine if the early initiation of contraceptive has proportionately improved with the recent increase in MCH services.

Is mother's financial autonomy associated with stunting among children aged 7-35 months: An empirical study from India.

Stunting depicts chronic deprivation and is a huge public health problem in several developing countries. Considering the sociocultural and sociodemographic factors of India, we aimed to examine the relationship between maternal autonomy and stunting among children <35 months. We have used the data from the latest round of National Family health survey conducted in 2015-16.

What Lessons should Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Learn from the Shortfalls of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana: The Case of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana in Chhattisgarh.

Context: Publicly funded health insurance has been rolled out by many states as well central government. As it is being seen as a way of protection against catastrophic health expenditure. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) has been one such attempt succeeded by the recent scheme Ayushman Bharat, which provides coverage of 5 lacs for each family per year.

Socioeconomic determinants of nutritional status among 'Baiga' tribal children In Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh: A qualitative study.

The Baigas due to their primitive agricultural techniques, poor education status and poor population growth have been conferred the status of 'Scheduled Tribe' by the Government of India. The community bears the brunt of inequities, reflected in their poor nutritional and socioeconomic status. We have employed qualitative design for the study, as we wanted to understand the contextual factors for Baiga tribal children's inferior nutrition status.

Adult Immunization - Need of the Hour.

Immunization is the process of making individuals immune. Childhood immunization is a common process for various aliments, but adult immunization in the Indian scenario is obscure. Officially, India has been declared polio-free, which is an achievement despite cultural, political, economic, geographic, and so many other factors.