Decomposing the Caste Gap in Food Insecurity among the Older Adults in India: Evidence from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-18.

Abstract

Abstract Background Older adults from socially disadvantaged backgrounds remain most vulnerable to face threats to meet basic requirements and adverse health outcomes. India is a country of socio-cultural and regional differences. Caste is one of the crucial social determinants affecting the phenomena of food insecurity leading to several disadvantages regarding an individual’s physical, social, and emotional conditions. The present study examined the caste differential in food insecurity between the non-SC/ST and SC/ST groups. Methods The present study utilizes data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI-Wave-I), a nationally representative survey of 73,396 older adults aged 45 and above conducted in 2017–18. The final analytical sample is 62,369 older adults aged 45 & above. Descriptive statistics was conducted to assess sample characteristics. Linear regression was performed to show the association between caste and food insecurity. Finally, blinder Oaxaca decomposition was carried out to show the caste gap in food insecurity and the factors contributing to the gap. Results The result showed that older adults from the SC/ST group are more likely to have higher food insecurity than those from the Non-SC/ST group [Coef: 1.04; CI: 1.03, 1.06]. The model shows that 45.55% explained the caste gap between non-SC/ST and SC/ST in food insecurity among older adults. The model reveals that education (13.37%), MPCE_Quintile (9.13%), place of residence (10.98%), country region (8.37%), living arrangement satisfaction (7.72%), subjective social position (6.52%) was contributing in widening the caste gap in food insecurity while factors like self-rated health (-1.2%), health behaviour (-4.13%), facing discrimination (-2.39%), and depression (-5.33%) were found responsible for narrowing the gap between the two groups in food insecurity. Conclusion The SC/ST population faces several challenges when it comes to accessing and utilizing opportunities even some basic requirements like secure food. Efforts have been made for their upliftment, though certain gaps are still there for policymakers to address for further betterment. The study shows factors widening and narrowing the caste gap, and these areas should be addressed and worked on to improve the scenario.