Publication

Trends in Child Immunization across Geographical Regions in India: Focus on Urban-Rural and Gender Differences

Authored by:

Singh, P.K.

Full Citation:

Singh, P.K. 2013. Trends in Child Immunization across Geographical Regions in India: Focus on Urban-Rural and Gender Differences. PLoS ONE. 8(9).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Disparities in immunization coverage between girls and boys persist despite apparent equity in coverage at the national or global level. Focused efforts to address persistent gender inequities in vaccine coverage are needed.

Key Evidence: An analysis of data from India’s National Family Health Survey designed to examine the trends and patterns of inequalities over time showed that, despite a decline in urban-rural and gender differences over time, children residing in rural areas and girls remained disadvantaged. Moreover, regions that had the lowest gender inequality in 1992 showed an increase in gender difference over time. Similarly, urban-rural inequality increased in one region during the 1992–2006 data collection period.

Despite improvement in vaccination rates at the national level, local level disparities persist.

Key Evidence: In an analysis of of data from India’s National Family Health Survey showed that, despite a decline in urban-rural and gender differences over time, girls and children residing in rural areas remained disadvantaged. Moreover, regions that had the lowest gender inequality in 1992 observed an increase in gender difference over time. Similarly, urban-rural inequality increased in one region during the data collection period.