Household and Environmental Conditions Influencing Health and Survival of Children in Northern and Southern Regions of India.

The child health situation in India has been improving slowly over the past few years and remains a major development challenge for India. Highest number of child deaths in world takes place in India. Nutrition level has not much improved form NFHS-2 to NFHS-3. The main purpose of the study to asses and compare the overall health of children in northern and southern states of India and to examine the relationship between several household and development related environmental factors to the health and survival of children in rural parts of two different northern and southern regions of India. Data from NFHS-3 has used for these purposes. Several indicators of nutrition and morbidity are used. Poor sanitation and electricity facilities significantly reduce the chances of children to secure better health in the both the regions. Poor water condition is also founds to be significant impact on wasting among children. Use of non-solid cooking fuel is also associated with survival and health situation of children. Education status of mother was very important determinants of child health and survival. Non nuclear families are also founds to be better than nuclear families in northern region but opposite is true for southern region.