Domestic Environment and child Morbidity in Uttar Pradesh

The study analyzes the association between domestic environment and child health in terms of drinking water, toilet facility, cooking fuels, and separate kitchen, type of house with the incidence of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and Diarrhea among under age five years of children. Study utilizes the data third round of Districts Level Household Survey conducted in 2007-08 by IIPS Mumbai. Bi-variate and multivariate technique have been carried out for this study. 17% children had suffered from ARI and 16% children in rural areas and 15% in urban areas had suffered from diarrhea in the last two week prior to the survey. Prevalence of ARI in western region 22% and diarrhea 20% where as southern part ARI 14% and diarrhea is 12%. Availability of separate kitchen in the house and used at clean fuels has less risk of ARI than non availability of separate kitchen in the house and use non - cleaner fuels. Use of tube well water is also leading cause of diarrhea among children. The findings further reveals that infants and children living in the rural areas and children of less educated mothers have higher prevalence of ARI as compared to their respective counterparts. Educated mothers are reducing the risk of ARI among their children.