Peer-reviewed article
Nutritional Status of Children Under Five Years in the Slums of West Bengal, India: A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence, Characteristics, and Determinants.
Abdul Jaleel, Swapan Bikash Saha, N Arlappa, Meghendra Banerjee, Samir Narayan Chaudhuri et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study measured the nutritional status of 736 children aged 6-59 months living in urban slums in Kolkata and Siliguri, West Bengal, India. Researchers found high rates of stunting (24.1%), underweight (22.3%), and wasting (15.4%) among the children. Poor household income, recent illness, low maternal nutrition, and delayed breastfeeding were identified as key factors linked to malnutrition. The authors recommend integrated strategies including income generation, health-sensitive urban planning, and strengthened maternal and child health services.
Key points
- Stunting prevalence of 24.1% among children aged 6-59 months in urban slums
- Underweight prevalence of 22.3% and wasting prevalence of 15.4%
- Low household income was a key predictor of anthropometric malnutrition
- Recent illness in children was significantly associated with malnutrition
- Delayed initiation of breastfeeding was identified as a determinant of poor nutritional status
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study, so it cannot establish causation or determine whether identified factors preceded malnutrition. The study is limited to two urban municipalities in West Bengal and may not represent rural areas or other regions of India.
Abstract
Objective: With rapid urbanization in countries like India, understanding the nutritional status and needs of urban populations, particularly among underprivileged groups such as people living in slums, is crucial. This study investigates the prevalence, characteristics, and determinants of child malnutrition in the urban slums of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) in West Bengal, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 736 children aged 6-59 months. Data were collected using structured interviews to gather socioeconomic, demographic, and dietary information, alongside anthropometric measurements. The analysis employed the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), and multiple linear regression (MLR) models to identify key factors influencing malnutrition. Results: The findings revealed a high prevalence of stunting (24.1%), underweight (22.3%), and wasting (15.4%) among children aged 6-59 months, with significant variations observed between the two study sites. Key predictors of anthropometric malnutrition include low household income, incidence of recent illness, low maternal nutrition, and delayed initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusions: Addressing child malnutrition in urban slums requires integrated strategies encompassing income-generation opportunities, health-sensitive urban planning, and focused maternal and child health interventions.