Figure 1
The framework is enclosed within a rectangle titled “MACRO-LEVEL DRIVERS”, and presents a structured, layered conceptual model. The outermost large oval represents the macro-level drivers. Around its boundary are six labeled boxes: “Social Protection” at the upper left, “Health Infrastructure” at the upper right, “Agricultural Policies” on the right, “Economic Structures” at the lower right, “Political Governance” at the lower left, and “Cultural Norms” on the left. Arrows from the top drivers point inward toward the central framework, indicating that influence flows from macro-level structures to the immediate determinants. Inside the large oval are three overlapping circles forming the “IMMEDIATE DETERMINANTS INTERSECTION”. The left circle is labeled “CASTE”, the right circle is labeled “GENDER”, and the bottom circle is labeled “CLASS”. These three circles overlap at the center. Within and near these overlapping areas are four determinant boxes: “Health Status” positioned in the upper-left region, “Dietary Intake” in the upper-right region, “Care Practices” in the lower-left region, and “Sanitation” in the lower-right region. At the exact center, where “CASTE”, “GENDER”, and “CLASS” intersect, is a smaller circle labeled “NUTRITION STATUS”, representing the outcome of the interacting determinants. At the top left of the figure, a legend identifies the color coding used in the framework: “Macro Drivers”, “Caste System”, “Gender System”, “Class System”, “Immediate Determinants”, and “Nutrition Status”.Conceptual framework of intersectional determinants of Dalit women’s nutritional (in)security. Caption: This diagram illustrates the multi-layered oppression shaping Dalit women’s nutrition. The core individual nutritional status is directly influenced by immediate determinants (inner ring), which are structured by the intersection of Caste, Gender and Class systems (middle ring). These intersecting structures are both reinforced by and shape macro-level drivers (outer ring). The convergence of these axes creates a unique and intensified experience of nutritional injustice