Gender Based Neglect and Discrimination Among Indian Children in the age group of 0 to 6 years

Introduction:

Preferential treatment for male children in comparison to female siblings is reflected in the skewed sex ratio at birth, excess female child mortality, discriminatory feeding and nutritional practices, stunting, wasting, underweight and anaemia, immunisation, as well as health and seeking behaviour, investment in education and experience of violence and abuse.

Objectives:

• Map the situation of children in the age group 0 to 6 years
• Analyse and highlight the prevalence of gender-based discrimination and neglect among them.
• Identify action points for more gender responsive policies and programmes.
• Identify areas of low evidence and data which require concentrated policy and programmatic focus.

Research Questions:

1. What are the broad trends in the prevalence, magnitude, and patterns of gender discrimination among children in the age group 0 to 6 years?
2. Are there variations in the occurrence of gender disparities in these domains across spatial or geographical locations, socio-economic groups, etc.?
3. What are the explanations for gender-based discrimination among children?
4. Do existing policies and programmes address these gender issues and gaps?
5. What are the action points that can help bridge gender gaps among children in this age group and lead to improved survival, health, nutrition and development outcomes?

Methodology:

Desk review.

Extraction of sex disaggregated data from national data sets and trend analysis pertaining to survival, mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, anaemia, nutritional practices, immunisation, etc. 

Application of T test for determining the significance of gender gaps; Oaxaca Blinder decomposition to estimate the determinants of gender gaps; Correlation to find out the association between different variables: and Logistic regression models/ Cox regression model to identify the determinants of survival, mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, anaemia, nutritional practices, treatment seeking and immunization with respect to both boys and girls.

Outcomes:

The study was sponsored by UNICEF. The findings were used by UNICEF to identify entry points within their India’s Country Programme to address and mitigate the gender-based deprivations identified by the study. The study findings were also used strategically by UNICEF to advocate for and help develop gender-responsive policy and programme guidance for children below six during discussions with NITI Aayog, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Women and Child Development, etc.