Inequality of opportunity in Indian children: the case of immunization and nutrition

Singh, Ashish (2010): Inequality of opportunity in Indian children: the case of immunization and nutrition. Forthcoming in:

Abstract

A child’s access to health care and minimum nutrition should not depend on circumstances such as caste, religion, gender, place of birth, or other parental characteristics, which are beyond the control of a child. This paper uses two rounds of Indian National Family Health Surveys and concepts of Inequality of Opportunity and Human Opportunity Indices to measure inequality arising out of unequal access to full immunization and minimum nutrition for Indian children. The results suggest overall high level of inequality of opportunity with substantial geographical variations. Changes in inequality of opportunity in the two services during 1992-93 to 2005-06 were mixed with some geographical regions outperforming others. The findings also call for substantial policy revisions if the goal of universal access to full immunization and minimum nutrition has to be achieved.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Inequality of Opportunity; Indian Children; Access to full immunization; Access to Minimum Nutrition; Inequality of Opportunity Index; Human Opportunity Index
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J13 - Fertility ; Family Planning ; Child Care ; Children ; Youth; D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I0 - General > I00 - General

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