When: Wednesday 11 June, 12–1pm
Where: Burwood Campus and online (via Zoom)
Register now to attend in-person or online.

About the ADI Lunchtime Seminars

ADI lunchtime seminars are relaxed, informal monthly discussions on current research projects and publications. Each session features a 20–30 minute talk followed by a Q&A.

This Month’s Focus:

This paper presents the development, testing and spatial variation of an innovative India Health Index. Unlike previous approaches that focused on specific health aspects, our index takes a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach. It covers indicators across various life stages and encompasses six domains influencing health: socio-cultural factors, health status, health determinants, household environment and health system and policy.

We used data from the latest round of the National Family Health Survey and deployed Principal Component Analysis. Subsequent statistical tests confirmed its internal reliability, construct validity and external validity. Spatial analyses revealed significant inter-district and inter-state variation in India Health Index scores. The findings underscore the utility of the India Health Index as a measurement tool and its potential for tracking progress and policy intervention for health equality in India.

Why Attend?

• Discover a new approach to measuring health comprehensively across diverse population groups and regions in India.
• Understand the methodology behind constructing and validating a robust health index using large-scale national data.
• Explore spatial health inequalities and how they can inform targeted policy and resource allocation.
• Gain insights into the intersection of health, demography, and public policy in a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape.
• Engage with cutting-edge research from a leading scholar in global health and demography.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Santosh Jatrana is a scholar in social and demographic research, currently serving as a Professor at the Alfred Deakin Research Institute. Previously, she held the position of Research Head at James Cook University’s Murtupuni Research Centre for Rural and Remote Health in Mount Isa, Queensland, and is also an Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Demography, Australian National University.

Dr. Jatrana's research focuses on migrant health and settlement dynamics, ageing and health, and primary health care. She has secured over $9 million in research grants and prestigious fellowships, including a Swiss National Science Foundation Fellowship, an Endeavour Award from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and an Early Career Research Award from the Australian Academy of Science. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Population Research and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, she is a regular columnist for the Indian daily ‘The Tribune’.