Khadilkar Anuradha1,2, Gondhalekar Ketan3, Khadilkar Vaman3,4, Ekbote Veena3. 1. Pediatric and Endocrine Department, Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, 31, Sassoon Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411001, India. anuradhavkhadilkar@gmail.com. 2. Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India. anuradhavkhadilkar@gmail.com. 3. Pediatric and Endocrine Department, Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, 31, Sassoon Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411001, India. 4. Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract
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.
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.