Anzeige
Erschienen in:
17.06.2022 | Original Article
Greater Reduction in Stunting Than Underweight and Wasting in Indian Under-Five Children: A Comparison of Growth Indicators from 4 National Family Health Surveys
Erschienen in: Indian Journal of Pediatrics | Ausgabe 10/2023
Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhaltenAbstract
Objective
To assess change in nutritional status in Indian under-five children from four rounds of national surveys (round 1 to 4).
Methods
National Family Health Survey data from 4 rounds (1992–2016) were analyzed. Height and weight for age (HAZ, WAZ), and weight for height (WHZ) z scores were calculated. Children under −2 z score were classified as malnourished by HAZ, WAZ and WHZ.
Results
A greater reduction in stunting (from 54 to 38%, p < 0.05) than in underweight (from 44 to 34%, p < 0.05) and wasting (from 19 to 20%, p > 0.1) status over the period of 4 NFHS rounds was observed from 1992 to 2016. In line with this, combination of improved height for age (−2.1 ± 1.8 to −1.5 ± 1.7) but relatively less improved weight for age (−1.8 ± 1.4 to −1.5 ± 1.2), the change in wasting status was either nil or meagre (−0.8 ± 1.4 to −0.9 ± 1.4), (p < 0.05 for all). The percentage of children malnourished by all 3 indicators together reduced from 9 to 6% (p < 0.05). At the 4th NFHS round, higher percentage of boys (8%) than girls (6%) and rural (7%) than urban (5%) children were malnourished by all 3 indicators (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Greater reduction in stunting than underweight and wasting was observed over the period of 4 rounds. There is a need for more focused efforts to combat malnutrition in rural children and boys.
