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Challenge of Under-Nutrition:Indian Scenario
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Globally one in three mal-nourished children lives in India. The study focuses on the extent and proximate determinants of under-nutrition in India and seeks action strategies. For this, NFHS–3, nation-wide sample survey data of 56,428 children below five years is used. Three indices of physical growth quantify the nutritional status of children, i.e., stunting-chronic malnutrition, wasting- acute malnutrition and underweight-mix of two.
Extent of stunting, underweight and wasting is 48.3 per cent, 42.8 per cent and 20.1 per cent. About 7.2 per cent children under-five years suffer from all the three forms of under-nutrition at once. The risk of dying is at its highest for this group. A typical child with under-nutrition is a rural, poor, with low standard of living, Hindu, tribal with less educated mother.
In child under-nutrition, chronic under-nutrition is more prevalent. Under-nutrition can be inter-generational: if the mother is under-nourished, the child may also be under-nourished. Inadequate care during pregnancy results in low birth weight babies which is a proximate determinant for under-nutrition and childhood diseases. Maternal nutrition needs more attention.
Though supplementary nutrition is necessary, it is not sufficient. Better livelihood opportunities for parents and equitable healthcare for all is essential.
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