Table 4. Magnitude of Inequalities by Intervention in 5 South Asian Countries.
| Indicator | Relative Index of Inequality (95% CI) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Bangladesh | India | Nepal | Pakistan | |
| Prevention | |||||
| Improved water | 3.2 (2.6-3.8) | 1.1 (1.0-1.1) | 1.0 (1.0-1.0) | 1.2 (1.2-1.3) | 0.9 (0.9-1.0) |
| Adequate sanitation | 15.7 (9.7-21.8) | 3.2 (2.7-3.7) | 4.7 (4.4-5.1) | 1.7 (1.5-1.9) | 6.4 (5.9-6.8) |
| FP needs satisfied | 2.0 (1.5-2.4) | 1.0 (0.9-1.1) | 1.8 (1.7-1.9) | 1.1 (1.0-1.1) | 1.6 (1.2-1.9) |
| ≥1 ANC visit | 1.7 (1.5-1.9) | 3.0 (2.6-3.5) | 1.1 (1.0-1.1) | 3.0 (2.5-3.6) | 2.0 (1.9-2.1) |
| ≥4 ANC visits | 5.1 (3.6-6.6) | 10.8 (7.3-14.4) | 1.2 (1.1-1.3)a | 4.8 (3.6-6.1) | 8.7 (7.8-9.5) |
| DPT3 immunization | 1.7 (1.4-1.9) | 1.2 (1.1-1.4) | 1.4 (1.4-1.5) | 1.1 (1.0-1.2) | 1.9 (1.3-2.6) |
| Measles immunization | 1.2 (1.1-1.4) | 1.3 (1.2-1.5) | 1.2 (1.2-1.3) | 1.1 (1.0-1.2) | 1.7 (1.2-2.2) |
| BCG immunization | 1.5 (1.3-1.6) | 1.1 (1.0-1.1) | 1.2 (1.2-1.2) | 1.0 (1.0-1.1) | 1.3 (1.1-1.5) |
| Polio3 immunization | 1.2 (1.1-1.3) | 1.2 (1.1-1.3) | 1.2 (1.3-1.2) | 1.1 (1.0-1.2) | 1.3 (1.1-1.5) |
| Care-seeking for pneumonia | 1.3 (1.0-1.7) | 1.3 (0.5-2.2) | 1.1 (1.0-1.2) | 1.6 (0.8-2.4) | 1.4 (1.2-1.5) |
| Exclusive breastfeeding | 1.1 (0.8-1.4) | 1.0 (0.6-1.5) | 1.0 (1.0-1.0) | 1.0 (0.4-1.6) | 1.0 (0.8-1.3) |
| Treatmentb | |||||
| ARI treatment | 1.2 (0.8-1.5) | 0.5 (0.3-0.8) | 1.1 (1.0-1.2) | 1.6 (1.2-2.0) | 1.1 (0.8-1.4) |
| Oral rehydration therapy | 0.9 (0.7-1.2) | 0.9 (0.5-1.2) | 1.1 (1.0-1.1) | 1.2 (0.8-1.6) | 1.3 (1.1-1.5) |
| Skilled birth attendance | 5.1 (4.2-5.9) | 5.5 (4.4-6.7) | 4.4 (3.8-5.0) | 4.7 (3.7-5.8) | 3.4 (3.2-3.7) |
| Institutional delivery | 4.8 (4.0-5.6) | 6.8 (5.2-8.4) | 1.3 (1.2-1.4) | 4.1 (3.1-5.1) | 3.6 (3.3-3.9) |
| Hypertension treatment | NA | 2.2 (1.7-2.6) | 1.3 (1.2-1.3) | NA | NA |
| Diabetes treatment | NA | 5.8 (3.2-8.5) | 1.2 (1.2-1.3) | NA | NA |
| Composite Indexesc | |||||
| Coverage | 1.7 (1.5-2.0) | 1.4 (1.0-1.9) | 1.3 (1.3-1.4) | 1.5 (1.4-1.6) | 1.7 (1.6-1.8) |
| Prevention | 1.8 (1.4-2.3) | 1.4 (1.0-1.9) | 1.3 (1.0-1.6) | 1.5 (1.1-1.8) | 1.8 (1.3-2.3) |
| Treatment | 2.2 (1.1-3.4) | 2.3 (0.5-4.2) | 1.3 (0.7-2.0) | 2.5 (1.3-3.8) | 2.3 (1.1-3.5) |
Abbreviations: ANC, antenatal care; ARI, acute respiratory infection; DPT3, 3 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine; FP, family planning; NA, not applicable; Polio3, 3 doses of polio vaccine.
Three or more ANC visits.
Diabetes and hypertension were not included to estimate the composite treatment index because these 2 indicators were not available in Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Composite prevention index was developed based on 11 prevention indicators, and composite treatment index was based on 4 treatment indicators by random-effects meta-analysis. Composite coverage index was a weighted mean of 8 interventions (FP needs satisfied, skilled birth attendant, ANC with skilled attendant, DPT3 immunization, measles immunization, BCG immunization, oral rehydration therapy for children with diarrhea, and care-seeking for pneumonia) from 4 specialties (FP, maternity care, child immunization, and case management).