Understanding Chronic Health Conditions in India: Evidence from the India Human Development Survey

Abstract

India has experienced significant demographic and social changes, leading to a rise in chronic diseases or long-term morbidity. The aging population poses challenges for public health experts and policymakers, with chronic conditions among older adults becoming a major concern. Using data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS-I and IHDS-II), our study aims to understand the dynamics of chronic illness or the condition of long-term morbidity in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of India through the application of multivariate regression and binary logit regression models. Our study unveils significant disparities in the prevalence of long-term morbidity across different demographic and socio-economic strata in India. Additionally, we find a high correlation between substance use and mental illness.