Page 128 - 5th APA Conference Program Book Final

Abstract

Given the limited evidence on the effect of socio-cultural practices on a child’s birth size, the study aims to identify
the sociocultural risk factors of smaller than average birth size in an ethnically homogenous tribal population in
India. We used the data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 conducted in India in 2015-16. We used
Fearon’s (2003) index of Ethno-linguistic fractionalization (ELF) for dividing tribal populations into homogeneous
and heterogeneous groups. We applied a multivariable binary logistic regression model to identify the
sociocultural risk factors. The prevalence of smaller than average birth size was 17% in an ethnically homogenous
tribal population in India. The women being polygynous union were 1.60 (95% CI: 1.31-1.95), those having blood-
related consanguineous marriage were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.07-1.48), and women using alcohol were 1.24 times (95%
CI: 1.10-1.40) as likely to deliver smaller than average size births compared to their counterparts. The study
identifies polygynous union, consanguineous marriage, and maternal use of alcohol are significant sociocultural
risk factors of smaller than average birth size in India. The significant reduction in the prevalence of smaller than
average birth size can be achieved through the activities addressing sociocultural practices in tribal populations.

1556 Gender Differential in Health Care Expenditure in India: Evidences from
National Sample Surveys 2004 and 2014, 2017-18

Sumedha Sumedha, Moradhvaj Moradhvaj

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

Categories

13. Others (Education, Wellbeing and Happiness etc.)

Abstract

Despite the presence of a vast literature on health-care expenditure (HCE) in low- and middle income countries,
th
st
there is limited evidence of gender disparity in HCE for in-patient care. Using three rounds (60 [2004] and 71
[2014], 75 [2017-18]) of the National Sample Survey Data, we examines gender disparity in average HCE and the
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effect of socioeconomic and healthcare factors on gender disparity in HCE. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition used to
understand the contribution of these factors on gender gap in HCE. Results shows average HCE is higher for male’s
compared to female’s in 2004 (male=11045 INR, Female=9701), 2014 (male=12815, female=9346) 2014
(male=13798, female=10325) and 2017-18 , the gender gap is increasing from 2004 to 2017-18. Patients who used
private health facility show higher disparity compared to public health service users. Non-communicable disease
shows higher disparity because of more expensive/higher cost of treatment compared to communicable disease.
Decomposition results suggest that about 84% gender difference explains through the Endowment factors.
Education, type of disease, level of care and duration of stay are widening male-female gap. To improve Women’s
health status need to economically empower by improving education and changes in gender attitude.

220 Investigating Determinants of Public and Private Health Spending on Maternal
Health Care Services in India

Monirujjaman BISWAS

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

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