Sociology 699J: Surveys in Developing Countries

Health and Anthropometry

Why study health?

• Health status a reflection of social structure: caste, class, and gender
• Health outcomes provide a more comparable cross-societal measure than many social outcomes
• Health as a classic example of a public good
• Where the money is
• Specific hypotheses:
• Desai & Alva: Maternal education and child health
• Kishor: Gender differences in infant mortality as an index of gender stratification
• Public policy: e.g., effectiveness of immunization campaigns
• Effects of indoor air pollution
• Health effects on worker absenteeism, productivity
• Others...

Three questions for each topic:

• What outcomes [proximate determinants, etc.] should be studied?
• See figure
• How should we measure it?
• Whom should be measured?

Multidimensionality: health outcomes

• Mortality
• Pregnancy outcomes
• Bio-markers
• Blood tests
• Anemia
• AIDS
• Diabetes
• Lead
• Lung capacity
• Eyesight
• Anthropometry
• Short term morbidity
• Diarrhea
• Acute Respiratory Infections
• Fever
• Disability and chronic morbidity
• Disabilities: blind, deaf, lame
• Chronic diseases: AIDS, diabetes, heart disease, cancer
• Physical mobility: Activities of daily living
• Mental health
• Self evaluated health
• Others...

Multidimensionality: inputs (individual & hh)

• Illness/Medical Treatment
• Type of treatment (clinic, physician)
• Expenditure (fees and medicines)
• Health insurance
• Transportation: distance, time, & cost
• Preventative Care
• Immunizations
• Antenatal care
• Behaviors
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Unsafe sex
• Hygiene: sanitation and waste
• Breastfeeding
• Diet
• Exercise
• Health knowledge
• Others...

Community level services, see: medical care

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