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

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...

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Main Authors: Pooja B.S. MSc, Vasudeva Guddattu PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2022-11-01
Series:Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221127122
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author Pooja B.S. MSc
Vasudeva Guddattu PhD
author_facet Pooja B.S. MSc
Vasudeva Guddattu PhD
author_sort Pooja B.S. MSc
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-d91c53bf2c774668a5416935bf6a3fb02022-12-22T04:14:05ZengSAGE PublishingInquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing0046-95801945-72432022-11-015910.1177/00469580221127122Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in IndiaPooja B.S. MSc0Vasudeva Guddattu PhD1Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, IndiaPrasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, IndiaTo 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.https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221127122
spellingShingle Pooja B.S. MSc
Vasudeva Guddattu PhD
Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India
Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
title Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India
title_full Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India
title_fullStr Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India
title_short Understanding the Change in the Prevalence and Factors Influencing the Childhood Stunting Using District-Level Data from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in India
title_sort understanding the change in the prevalence and factors influencing the childhood stunting using district level data from nfhs 4 and nfhs 5 in india
url https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221127122
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