Muslim and Non-Muslim Differentials in Three Critical RCH Indicators in Muslim Densely Populated States of India

Reproductive and Child Health indicators are very important for the improvement and maintenance of health for women and children in any society. This study examines differentials in institutional delivery, child immunization coverage and contraceptive use by religion and also investigates public and private share in institutional delivery and source of obtaining modern spacing methods by Muslim and non-Muslim in Muslim densely populated states and India using data from India's DLHS-3. This paper adopts bivariate analysis to study the differentials by selected background characteristics. In all the indicators, non-Muslims have shown their glorious pictures as compared to Muslims at the national level as well as in the selected states. Substantial differences have been also noticed in public and private share in institutional delivery and source of obtaining modern spacing methods. West Bengal and Assam show highest level of differences for all of the indicators. In backward states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar it has been seen that both Muslim and non-Muslim women are increasingly availing private institution for delivery instead of public institutions. This study may help planners or policy makers to formulate various types of policy which will be helpful to reduce the prevailing differences between them.