01709nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653001200054653001400066653001400080653001000094653003200104653001700136100001400153700001300167245012900180856007500309300001000384490000600394520109100400       2016                            d10aTobacco10aSmoking10aNutrition10aMortality10aIndia10aHealth-related risk factors10aCaste system1 aCoelho KR1 aBelden C00aA systematic review of the literature on the relationship between caste membership and health-related risk factors in India.  uhttp://www.ijmedph.org/sites/default/files/10.5530ijmedph.2016.2.3.pdf  a61-680 v63 a<p>The purpose of this systematic review is firstly to critically appraise and summarize the peer-reviewed published evidence on the relationship between the caste system and risk factors for poor health status in India and secondly, to discuss the concept of the social gradient and policies that have been developed to address social inequalities of healthcare in India. Studies explored the relationship between caste membership and health-related risk factors such as mortality, health behaviors, and nutritional status. Review revealed odds of mortality; poor health behaviors and poor nutritional status were higher and in some cases were significantly higher in lower caste groups in comparison to reference groups. Odds ratios reported for mortality and poor health behaviors were significantly higher in older populations. Odds ratios reported for nutritional status and mortality were significantly higher in younger populations. Further research on the independent effects of wealth and education would broaden the scope of the social gradient health equation in India.</p>