AsianScientist (Mar. 15, 2019) – Marginalized groups in India benefit less from nutrition programs, say researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Their findings will be published in the April edition of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
India’s largest government-run community-based nutrition programs were expanded significantly between 2006 and 2016, especially among historically disadvantaged castes and tribes. However, the distribution of these benefits has been uneven, according to research led by scientists at IFPRI.
Using data from two rounds of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2005-2006 and in 2015-2016, the researchers found that women with low education and the poorest households are relatively more excluded from accessing the benefits of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program. The ICDS program is an initiative that provides food, pre-school education, and primary healthcare to children under six and pregnant and lactating women.
“Even though overall utilization has improved and reached many marginalized groups such as historically disadvantaged castes and tribes, the poor are still left behind, with lower utilization and lower expansion throughout the continuum of care,” said IFPRI research fellow and study co-author Dr. Kalyani Raghunathan.
“These gaps are especially pronounced in the largest states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which also carry the highest burden of undernutrition. While both states have shown improvements in 2016, they still fall behind national averages, suggesting that overall poor performance in high poverty states could lead to major exclusions,” she added.
The study provides important policy lessons not only for India and the states, but also for all countries that are in the process of scaling-up nutrition-specific interventions.
“Despite the positive findings of our analysis on coverage and on the closing of some equity gaps, a lot more insight is needed to further strengthen program quality. Our other studies on ICDS emphasize that key program elements like the food supplements, convergence and behavior change will need much attention to ensure that women and children across India get high quality program services,” said co-author Dr. Purnima Menon of the IFPRI.
The article can be found at: Chakrabarti et al. (2019) India’s Integrated Child Development Services Program; Equity and Extent of Coverage in 2006 and 2016.
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Source: International Food Policy Research Institute; Photo: Shutterstock.
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