Changes in Basic Amenities, Awareness, Socio-Economy and Child Morbidity: A Comparative Study from NFHS-2 and NFHS-3

Abstract

The study presents the differentials and determinants of morbidity prevalence in India, Central India, Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh. The major objectives of the study are to assess the condition of basic amenities, awareness, socio-economy and 0–59 month children's morbidity during two periods and its changes in India, Central India and two states of Central India-MP and Chhattisgarh, and also to assess the important factors which are responsible for changing the morbidity pattern among the children. For this study, national level data of two periods that is National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-2 and NFHS-3 have been used. The sample sizes used in NFHS-2 are 30, 970 for India, 6, 608 for Central India and 2, 631 for MP. In NFHS-3, the sample sizes are 48, 656 for India, 10, 750 for Central India, 2, 801 for MP and 1, 471 for Chhattisgarh. Morbidity status has been judged through diarrhoea, cough and fever. It is seen from our study that, at present, occurrences of morbidity is more or less same in India, Central India, MP and Chhattisgarh, and the changes are more or less in same magnitude from its previous time period. A very peculiar observation is that, in India, morbidity rate is high in rural areas than in urban areas, but in Central India, MP and Chhattisgarh, the picture is completely reverse that is in urban areas, morbidity is higher than in rural areas and among the illiterate persons, morbidity is the lowest. The probable reason of this may be that, the morbidity status has been judged from self-reporting method. If the reporter is not properly aware about the condition of illness, how can he or she will be able to judge the level of illness correctly; i.e. why, due to the differences in understanding, the reported morbidity differs. In general, it can be said that morbidity depends on socioeconomy, awareness and basic development strategies of the community and the individuals.