Priya Vart|Ajay Jaglan|Kashif Shafique
Caste-based social inequalities and childhood anemia in India: results from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2005–2006
University Medical Center Groningen|University of Groningen|Gauhati Medical College and Hospital|Dow University of Health Sciences
caste one traditional measures social segregation india differs indicators endogamous hereditary evidence suggests belonging lower castes exposes one social inequalities affects health adversely examined association caste childhood anemia india explored effect modifying role adult education household wealth crosssectional analysis national family health survey nfhs data 43484 children aged 659 months performed poisson regression analysis conducted study association caste childhood anemia accounting various maternal child household related variables caste categorized caste least disadvantageous backward caste scheduled tribe scheduled caste disadvantageous anemia defined mild hemoglobin level 711 gdl moderate hemoglobin level 57 gdl severe hemoglobin level 5 gdl found children scheduled caste higher risk anemia mild anemia rr 110 95 ci 105115 moderate anemia rr 119 95 ci 114124 severe anemia rr 187 95 ci 151 231 accounting child maternal household covariates including adult education household wealth interaction caste adult education household wealth statistically significant level anemia sensitivity analyses children born mothers age 18 years first child birth body mass index bmi 185 kgm2 resulted similar findings caste independent determinant childhood anemia india level adult education household wealth modify association caste childhood anemia findings may used countering childhood anemia may beneficial target future public health actions towards disadvantageous castes india