Socio-Economic Inequality in Self-Reported Health Measures among the Elderly in Rural India

Declining mortality and fertility has resulted in a proportionate increase in old age (60+) population in rural India, largely characterized by limited economic resources, poor health status and inadequate use of health facilities that heightens their vulnerability to various ill-health outcomes. Using data from 60th round of National Sample Survey (NSSO-2004), we examine the socio-economic differentials in self-reported ailments among rural elderly population. Employing Verbruse and Jette’s (1994) Disability Framework, we test the association between socio-economic inequalities and selected health outcomes- active pathology, impairment, functional limitation and disability. Result shows that elderly from richest, rich and middle quintiles were more likely to report various health ailments than the poorest one. Economic inequalities were largest in functional limitation followed by disability. Age advancement has a profound impact on physical impairment, which could be explained by the living arrangement and working status of the elderly. Therefore, in order to ensure healthy aging, there is an urgent to establish equitable old age security schemes providing physical, social as-well-as economic support to the elderly population, particularly among economically disadvantageous groups in rural India.