Socio-economic Transition in an Indian Rural Setting and Its Impact on Health: Pune Maternal Nutrition Study

Background There is scant scientific information on socioeconomic transition and its effects on health parameters in India. The prospective data collection in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) birth cohort provided an opportunity to examine the changes in socio-economic status (SES) and 1) its comparison against state and district indicators, 2) association with body size and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Method We followed up ∼700 families for biomedical information in the PMNS. SES data was collected in the index pregnancy (1993-96) and serially every six years (∼2001, ∼2007, ∼2013). Comparisons with rural Maharashtra and Pune were made using data from the National Family Health Survey 1999 and 2006 (NFHS II and III). Results There was an increase in the proportion of those in the high Standard of Living Index (SLI, NFHS) from 64% to 90% between 2001 and 2013. The increase in SES in our study area was faster and greater compared to the state and district. Higher SLI was associated with higher weight, height, body fat percent and total cholesterol concentrations at each followup. However, there were no associations between transition and health parameters. Conclusion Our data suggest a rapid socio-economic transition in the study area which is faster than the state and district.