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Association between wealth and health among older adults in rural China and India

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  • Kumar, Kaushalendra
  • Shukla, Ankita
  • Singh, Abhishek
  • Ram, Faujdar
  • Kowal, Paul

Abstract

Declining mortality and fertility has resulted in an increase in the size of older adult (60+) populations worldwide, often characterized by limited economic resources, poor health status and challenges with accessing health facilities, thereby increasing their vulnerability to various poor health outcomes. Using data from the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE), economic differentials in health-related ailments were examined among rural dwelling older adults in China and India. Employing a disability framework, the associations between wealth status and four health outcomes, active disease, physical impairment, functional limitation and disability, were tested. Older adults from the three wealthiest quintiles (richest, richer and middle) were less likely to report the four health outcomes than the poorest one. Economic inequalities were largest for functional impairment and disability. Age advancement had a significant impact on each of the health outcomes. Equitable old age security schemes providing physical, social and economic support to this population, particularly to the economically disadvantageous groups in rural areas, are needed to ensure healthy aging in rural China and India.

Suggested Citation

  • Kumar, Kaushalendra & Shukla, Ankita & Singh, Abhishek & Ram, Faujdar & Kowal, Paul, 2016. "Association between wealth and health among older adults in rural China and India," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 7(C), pages 43-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:7:y:2016:i:c:p:43-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2016.02.002
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    1. Liping Fu & Yuhui Wang & Lanping He, 2020. "Factors Associated with the Psychological Health of Caregiving Older Parents and Support from Their Grown Children: Results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Qingyuan Xue & Nopphol Witvorapong, 2022. "Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Aging People’s Health in China," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 476-488, September.
    3. Y Selvamani & Pushpendra Singh, 2018. "Socioeconomic patterns of underweight and its association with self-rated health, cognition and quality of life among older adults in India," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Windi Wijayanti & Devanto Shasta Pratomo & Mohamad Khusaini, 2018. "The Effects of Socio-Economic Factors on Health of Elderly in East Java," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 65(2), pages 205-213, June.
    5. Rui Zhang & Chenglei Zhang & Jiahui Xia & Dawei Feng & Shaoyong Wu, 2022. "Household Wealth and Individuals’ Mental Health: Evidence from the 2012–2018 China Family Panel Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-18, September.

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