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In a study published in Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, researchers examined the prevalence and trajectory of undernutrition indicators among children under three years of age across India. The study evaluated changes over nearly three decades to better understand the extent of the issue at both national and state levels.
The research compared data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) rounds NFHS-1 (1992–93) to NFHS-5 (2019–20), revealing marginal changes in key undernutrition indicators. While wasting (low weight for height) slightly increased from 19.9% to 20.5%, the incidence of stunting (impaired growth) and underweight status decreased from 51.9% and 34.1% to 45.8% and 29.4%, respectively. Additionally, wasting showed a minimal increase of 0.21%.
The study highlighted that male children were more likely to experience stunting, underweight, and wasting than female children. Furthermore, maternal education played a crucial role in determining undernutrition risk. Children of mothers with little or no education were found to be at twice the risk of malnutrition, while those whose mothers had only secondary education still faced a 1.5 times higher likelihood of developing stunting and underweight status.
Regional disparities in malnutrition were also evident. In NFHS-1, stunting prevalence ranged from 33.2% in Nagaland to 63.8% in Bihar, while NFHS-5 data showed a shift, with the lowest prevalence in Manipur (23.1%) and the highest in Meghalaya (41.6%). Underweight prevalence in NFHS-1 varied from 19.7% in Mizoram to 60.2% in Bihar, and in NFHS-5, the range narrowed to 11.6% in Manipur and 39.7% in Bihar. Wasting prevalence in NFHS-1 was lowest in Mizoram (4.5%) and highest in Rajasthan (26.8%), whereas the 2019–21 survey found the lowest prevalence in Punjab (11.4%) and the highest in Maharashtra (27.7%).
These findings underscore the evolving trends in malnutrition indicators. While most states have seen declines in stunting and undernutrition, the trends in wasting remain inconsistent, indicating an area requiring focused policy intervention.
Disclaimer: This article is based on data from the Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health journal and NFHS surveys. The findings should be interpreted within the context of survey limitations and evolving healthcare policies.
