Will changes in health policy improve child health status in India?

Due to relatively low socioeconomic development, child health indicators have remained quite poor in India. Moreover, the interregional disparity in child health has remained high and may have become even worse over the last few years. India needs to tackle not only the overall poor child health status but also the regional and socio-economic disparity that exists.

In a resource poor country like India, increasing total resource availability in the health sector will be relatively difficult and slow.  Substantial progress could be accomplished with better efficiency, both at national and sub-national levels. It is also possible that improving efficiency of the health system (in terms of child health outcome) may help lower socio-economic disparities in health.

This study aims to (1) identify states/regions that appear to be less successful (inefficient) in improving child health status over time in an efficient manner, (2) identify factors that can help improve child health at a relatively rapid rate in poor performing states, and (3) the effects of potential determinants of child health in relatively efficient and relatively inefficient states.

Demographic and Health Survey data from India (1998-99) has been used for in-depth analysis to identify determinants of child health status across states. Nutritional status (height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height) was used to measure child health status. Various socioeconomic variables were used as explanatory variables. Ordinary least squares is used to identify the determinants and infer their relative importance.

Significant differences in infant and child mortality performance between states calls for state specific child health policies that would take into account state-specific demographic patterns such as (1) strengthening of health systems at all levels, (2) reduction in mortality rates among female children, (3) making centrally sponsored schemes flexible to local conditions, and (4) develop and expand community prevention