title: Socioeconomic dynamics of gender disparity in childhood immunization in India, 1992-2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence indicated that gender disparity in child health is minimal and narrowed over time in India. However, considering the geographical and socio-cultural diversity in India, the gender gap may persist across disaggregated socioeconomic context which may be masked by average level. This study examines the dynamics of gender disparity in childhood immunization across regions, residence, wealth, caste and religion in India during 1992-2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used multi-waves of the cross-sectional data of National Family Health Survey conducted in India between 1992-93 and 2005-06. Gender disparity ratio was used to measure the gender gap in childhood immunization across the selected socioeconomic characteristics. Multinomial regression analysis was used to examine the gender gap after accounting for other covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicate that, at aggregate level, gender disparity in full immunization is minimal and has stagnated during the study period. However, gender disparity--disfavouring female children--becomes apparent across the regions, poor households, and religion--particularly among Muslims. Adjusted gender disparity ratio indicates that, full immunization is lower among female than male children of the western region, poor household and among Muslims. Between 1992-93 and 2005-06, the disparity in full immunization had narrowed in the northern region whereas it had, astonishingly, increased in some of the western and southern states of the country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings emphasize the need to integrate gender issues in the ongoing immunization programme in India, with particular attention to urban areas, developed states, and to the Muslim community.
authors.affiliation: International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Ranjan Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Prusty
authors.affiliation: International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012737:Sex Factors; D063507:Sexism / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult