title: Are self reported morbidities deceptive in measuring socio-economic inequalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ambiguity and variability in existing literature on the magnitude of socio-economic inequality in self-reported morbidities makes it difficult to set priorities in health policy. This study examined three critical research questions: first, how far self-reporting affects measuring socio-economic inequalities in case of obstetric morbidities. Second, does using simple bivariate variations mislead in estimating socio-economic differentials in prevalence of obstetric morbidities? Finally, whether use of sophisticated regression based decomposition results can overcome such problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3; 2005-06) were used, and analyzed by statistical tools such as bivariate estimates and regression based decomposition analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bivariate results revealed that self-reported obstetric morbidity data were misleading in measurement of socio-economic differentials, as these failed to show existing socio-economic variations in obstetric morbidities by socio-economic standing of women. However, decomposition analysis showed that the prevalence of obstetric complications was greater among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our findings on measurement of socio-economic inequality in self-reported obstetric morbidity, we conclude that the use of regression based inequality decomposition estimates not only overcomes the problems of measuring socio-economic inequality based on self-reported morbidities, but also increases the validity of such measures.
authors.affiliation: International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India. kshipraaa@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Kshipra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arokiasamy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D008192:Deception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors