Sociology of Child Health Care Practices in Nanded District of Maharashtra, Central India — A Single Centre Hospital-based Crosssectional Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Despite the yearly increase in budget and improved health infrastructure, the improvement in the health indices is not parallel to them. It indicates that there are other factors influencing the health indices like morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study highlights the socio-demographic factors and their importance in child health care. Methods: A single-centre hospital-based cross-sectional study was done at a tertiary health care centre in central India. One thousand cases were enrolled over 3 years and evaluated for the association of socio-demographic parameters and child health status indicators. Results: Of the 1000 cases, immunization status in children had a significant association with mother’s education status (p=0.005), father’s education status (p=0.001), and religion (p<0.001) but not associated with socio-economic status (p=0.254) and place of residence (urban versus rural) (p=0.916). The pallor was significantly associated with the mother’s education status (p=0.001), father’s education status (p=0.005), socio-economic status (p=0.001) but not associated with the sex of the child (p=0.934), place of residence (p=0.807) and religion of the participant child (p=0.812). Conclusion: Immunization status of the child was significantly associated with the educational status of parents and religion while pallor was associated with the educational status of parents and economic status. The educational status of the parent is significant as for as child health care is concerned