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Reflections on Wealth Quintile Distribution and Health Outcomes
Authors: T R Dilip and Udaya S Mishra
Source: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol - XLIII No. 48, November 29, 2008
Topic(s): Health equity
Wealth Index
Country: Asia
  India
Published: NOV 2008
Abstract: This study focuses on the method the National Family Health Survey-3 adopts to compute national wealth quintiles using the wealth index score of households as a basis. It argues that the survey's national wealth quintile classification does not account for interstate variations in wealth possession as well as rural-urban differences within states, which could lead to biased outcomes when applied to health indicators. It suggests that working out state-specific wealth quintiles that allow for the differentials would be more appropriate.