Maternal health outcomes of socially marginalized groups in India

What is it about?

The present study delves into the health inequalities between the two most socially deprived groups namely Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) in rural India. This study used health specific three rounds National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) unit level data for analyses. Probit model has been used to predict the differences in access to maternal healthcare services. Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Method is used to explore the inequality in health of rural population in India and assess the estimated relative contribution of socio – economic and demographic factors on inequalities in maternal health. he study establishes that STs Women often perform poorly compared to SCs in terms of maternal health such as antenatal care, postnatal care and institutional delivery. Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Method shows that there exist health inequalities between STs and SCs women. Difference in household income contributes 21 – 34% and women’s education 19 – 24% in the gap of utilization of maternal health care services between SCs and STs. A substantial part of this difference is contributed by availability of water at home and geographical region. Finally, the study offers some policy suggestions in order to mitigate the health inequalities among socially – marginalized groups of SC and ST women in rural areas.This study measures and explains inequalities in maternal health variables such as antenatal care, postnatal care and institutional delivery in rural India. Research on access to maternal healthcare facilities is needed to improve the health of deprived sections such as Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in India. The results of this study pinpoint the need for public health decision makers in India to concentrate on the most deprived and vulnerable sections of the society. This study, thus makes a detailed and tangible contribution to the current knowledge of health inequalities between the two most deprived social groups i.e. SCs and STs.

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