Abstract
The socio-economic factors influencing healthcare access in Nuh (Mewat), an aspirational district in Haryana, highlight significant impediments to enhancing its Human Development Index (HDI). The main research tool was conducting surveys, targeting 130 families with children who have major handicaps in select villages of Nuh, Haryana. The study revealed that children commonly suffer from birth defects, diseases, deficiencies, developmental delays and disabilities, with these issues being observed in nearly every household. The study also noted a severe shortage of quality educational institutions, which has resulted in low levels of empowerment and the persistence of social issues like child marriages and large families. Access to healthcare services is hindered by factors such as the distance to medical facilities, the absence of medical practitioners and insufficient healthcare infrastructure. The study’s findings indicate that 25% of the population exhibits signs of deficiency due to poor nutrition, 16.6% suffer from diseases due to unclean conditions and unhealthy habits, 21% experience developmental delays, 18% are born with disabilities and 11% have birth defects, primarily due to inadequate prenatal care. The study findings highlight the multifaceted challenges faced by the population of Nuh, particularly in healthcare and education, which contribute to the district’s low HDI and high infant mortality rate.
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