The Effect of Household Income and Heath Care Access on Youths Nutritional Status in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Youths should have access to education, nutrition and health care. Educated and healthy youths help nation to develop fast. Mumbai Metropolitan Region is most developed region of India. But the prevalence of malnutrition is widely viewed across slums in region. The incidence of malnutrition is increasing with increase in age among youths. The parent’s lower educational achievement is a cause of malnutrition among youths. At lower household income, the incidence of malnutrition is higher but as the income increases the incidence of malnutrition declines among youths. The various asset holding is lower with malnourished youths of slums in region. Most of nutritious food is eaten by the youths but still prevalence of malnutrition is higher among youths. The logit model for youths is positively correlated to sex, water requirement, read newspaper and magazines, prenatal care. It is negatively co-related to car owned, contraceptives used, child care at home. The logit regression for female is positively correlated to sex, weekly water requirement, IUD, prenatal care. It is negatively co-related to known of nutrition, condom use, child care at home. The logit regression for male is positively co-related to private source of drinking water, weekly water requirement; purify drinking water, known nutrition, curd and vegetable consumption. It is negatively correlated to sex, pulses and fruits consumption. In order to reduce the incidence of malnutrition among youths, the state government and municipal corporations must provide infrastructural facilities in slums. Most of the slums are not provided sewage line, electricity, water supply and solid waste collection system etc. The water supply in slums is very important to reduce the water washed and water borne diseases. State government must provide vocational training to poor people of slums. Such skills will improve income and asset holdings. Youth need counseling related to good behavior, nutritious diet, examinations and
