Regional Variation in Child Immunization in Maharashtra,India

This paper examines the deferential in Coverage of full immunization, dropout in BCG to measles and gender inequality through selected demographic and socioeconomic variables which effects on the chance of immunisation for children in Maharashtra and in its all five Geographical Region namely, Northern Maharashtra, Vidharbha, Marathwada, Konkan, and Pune. The analysis uses data from the third round of District Level Health Survey, 2006. Bivariate, multivariate and dropout rates are used to understand the differentials and changes in immunization coverage along with that concentration Index is used for measure the gender inequality in coverage of immunization. Results indicate that there is huge regional vitiation in child immunization in Maharashtra. Northern Maharashtra region has poor condition in child immunization than Vidharbha and Marathwada Konkan region has cross the boundary of middle performing criteria and progress is relatively better but slower and smaller. On the other hand Western Maharashtra region has better condition in child immunization. Finding further reveals that higher drop out in BCG to Measles are responsible for lower coverage of full immunization in regions of Maharashtra. Gender inequality in immunization is lower in Northern Maharashtra, vidharbha and Marathwada by richest wealth quintile children