Published on August 2018 | Social Exclusion

Social Exclusion, Caste and Health Status of Women and Children in Jammu & Kashmir, India

The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the linkages between certain selected socially excluded groups (SCs, STs & OBCs) and their health status in Jammu & Kashmir. In the context of India as well as Jammu & Kashmir, the existence of caste system and gender bias is one of the major reasons of social exclusion. Due to exclusion from mainstream groups, the health status of these socially excluded groups is badly affected in one or the other way. We have selected certain health indicators such as health status of women during pregnancy, nutritional status of women and children and other general indicators of child health which directly or indirectly reflect the health status of women and children. Analysis has been done to understand the association between socially excluded groups and their health status in Jammu & Kashmir. The results indicated that huge health disparities in the health status of the women and children belonging to SCs, STs and OBCs do exist when compared to others. It was further observed that the health status of women and children in Jammu & Kashmir is better than all India level.