Determinants of Childhood Immunization in India and Measurement of Gender Discrimination

Poulami Chatterjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Amaresh Dubey, Jawaharlal Nehru University

This paper attempts to analyse the role of some socio-economic and demographic variables on the likelihood of being fully immunised in India and in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state with one of the highest infant and child mortality rates in the country. Six childhood vaccinations are being considered for the children of the age between one to less than five years in India. The paper also tries to decompose and quantify the gender discrimination with regard to childhood immunisation for both India and Uttar Pradesh The data used are from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), which were conducted in 2004-05 and 2011-12 by the University of Maryland and the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi. The analysis reveals that vaccination coverage is far from complete despite an intense immunisation programme since 1985 and discrimination against girl child is present despite free availability of vaccines.