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Measuring Socio-Economic Inequality in Self-Reported Morbidity in India: Decomposition Analysis

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  • M.D. Azharuddin Akhtar
  • Nadeem Ahmad
  • Indrani Roy Chowdhury

Abstract

This paper assesses socio-economic inequalities in self-reported morbidities (SRMs) among households in India. Particularly, we addressed two questions. Is socio-economic-related inequality in SRMs significantly pro-rich or pro-poor? What are the major socio-economic and regional determinants contributing to inequality? This study is based on National Sample Survey 71st round (2014). We calculated equity ratio and concentration index (CI) to assess socio-economic-related inequality. Further, we applied probit regression and decomposition of CI to identify the major factors contributing to inequality. The finding suggests that SRMs and hospital admission have significantly pro-rich distribution, and accessibility to healthcare is a constraint against poor households. After adjusting the inequality, the unjust inequality due to socio-economic gradient is still found to be significant. Overall, income and regional differences are observed to be inflating factors, while education and insurance are observed to be deflating factors in socio-economic inequality in SRMs. High out-of-pocket expenditure with high proportion of transportation cost indicates high burden of accessing healthcare, which acts as a deterrent for poor in seeking healthcare. The government targets of investing 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product in the healthcare sector and running an ambitious programme like Universal Health Coverage are necessary efforts in the presence of income and health inequalities.

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  • M.D. Azharuddin Akhtar & Nadeem Ahmad & Indrani Roy Chowdhury, 2020. "Measuring Socio-Economic Inequality in Self-Reported Morbidity in India: Decomposition Analysis," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 25(1), pages 89-111, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:revdev:v:25:y:2020:i:1:p:89-111
    DOI: 10.1177/0972266120916317
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    1. A. Akhtar & Nadeem Ahmad & Indrani Roy Chowdhury, 2020. "Socio-economic inequality in catastrophic health expenditure among households in India: A decomposition analysis," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 339-369, December.
    2. Shreya Banerjee & Indrani Roy Chowdhury, 2020. "Inequities in curative health-care utilization among the adult population (20–59 years) in India: A comparative analysis of NSS 71st (2014) and 75th (2017–18) rounds," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, November.

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