An insight into the child nutrition situation and determinants revealed by the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) shows that 68% of under-5 child mortality in India is associated with malnutrition, and over one-third of under-5 children in the country are chronically undernourished or stunted.

A rapid trend analysis report, published by the Observer Research Foundation, compares findings of NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5.  The report, authored by Sheila C. Vir and Shoba Suri, finds a reversal in the progress made on some of the key nutrition indicators in the country. These include an increased trend in chronic undernutrition in 13 States, as well as a rising trend in the percentage of overweight under-5 children in every State with the exception of one UT. The unexpected increasing trend in under-nutrition in States such as Kerala, Goa and Himachal Pradesh where over 60% women are reported to have completed at least 10 years of education is intriguing.

Child undernutrition is broadly determined by underlying and immediate factors. Data reveals that the underlying determinants that are most crucial for preventing chronic child undernutrition or stunting are women’s education, height not less than 145 cms and right age of conception as well as improved antenatal care services and water-sanitation-hygiene (WASH) situation. The percentage coverage of nutrition-sensitive interventions focusing on underlying determinants have seen positive trends in the period of four years, between 2015 and 2019.

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