Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India

Bibliographic Data

ID13775186
AuthorsPooja B S (0000-0002-3516-3112, Manipal Academy of Higher Education), Vasudeva Guddattu (0000-0002-6648-2730, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume59
Pages469580221127122-469580221127122
Publication date2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0046-9580 • E-ISSN: 1945-7243
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00469580221127122
PMID36377195
OpenAlexW4309368961
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited18

To compare the district level prevalence of childhood stunting between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 and to explore the correlates of it at the district level. Although malnutrition rates in India have decreased over a period, country is still a home for the highest number of stunted and wasted children in the world. Among the South Asian countries, India has the second highest number of stunted children. An ecological study conducted by using the data from fourth and fifth round of National Family Health Survey. Study concentrated on percentage of children who were stunted across 692 Indian districts during 2 survey periods and its correlates from NFHS-5. District level change in childhood stunting was calculated by differencing the NFHS-5 estimates from NFHS-4. Descriptive statistics were used to understand the nature of the variables and Moran's I statistic was calculated to check for the spatial autocorrelation in the childhood stunting. Spatial error regression model was used to identify the correlates of childhood stunting. Among the Indian districts considered, 243 districts showed the increase in childhood stunting between the time periods considered. Currently, about 33.56% of children in India are stunted and there is high spatial disparity in the prevalence of childhood stunting among the districts of it. Major hotspots of childhood stunting were found in the parts of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Households access to improved sanitation facility, iodized salt, clean fuel, women 10 plus years of schooling, post-natal care of mother were found to be the significant protective factors. Closed spacing of births, teenage pregnancy, low BMI of women, childhood diarrhea, and anemia were found to be the significant risk factors of childhood stunting. Stunting depends on several other factors apart from poverty, working on these factors will help in reducing childhood stunting in India

Descriptive statistics · Environmental health · Family health · Geography · Iodine deficiency · Iodised salt · Malnutrition · Sanitation · Socioeconomics · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine

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