Peer-reviewed article

Gender Disparity in Nutritional Status and Education Among Children Aged Seven to 12 Years in Jasra Block, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Chauhan S, Parveen K, Kumar A · 23 Jun 2026

Abstract

Background Malnutrition and educational disadvantage among children remain important public health concerns in rural India, where intra-household food allocation, healthcare-seeking, and educational opportunities may differ between boys and girls. This study assessed gender disparities in nutritional status and education among children aged seven to 12 years in a rural community of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Materials and methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 486 children aged seven to 12 years (243 boys and 243 girls) in Jasra block, Prayagraj, using consecutive house-to-house enrolment. Data were collected through a pre-designed, pre-tested schedule administered to mothers/caregivers and through direct anthropometric examination. Nutritional status was assessed using height-for-age and body mass index-for-age categories. Educational status, school status, school type, and sociodemographic variables were recorded. Associations with gender were assessed using the chi-square test. Binomial logistic regression was performed with educational and nutritional status as outcomes and gender as the exposure. A p<0.05 was considered significant. Results Of 486 children, 405 (83.33%) were ever enrolled, and 81 (16.67%) were never enrolled. Never enrolment was significantly higher among girls (54, 22.22%) than boys (27, 11.11%; p=0.001). Height-for-age was significantly associated with gender (p=0.008); moderate stunting (28 {11.52%} girls vs. 16 {6.58%} boys) and severe stunting (36 {14.81%} girls vs. 29 {11.93%} boys) were more frequent among girls. BMI-for-age did not show a statistically significant association with gender (p=0.193); although moderate thinness (44 {18.11%} girls vs. 35 {14.40%} boys) and severe thinness (49 {20.16%} girls vs. 39 {16.05%} boys) were proportionately higher among girls, this represents a non-significant observed trend. With gender as the exposure, girls had higher odds of never enrolment (OR 2.29; 95% CI: 1.38-3.77; p=0.001) and of moderate-or-severe stunting (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.02-2.42; p=0.040), whereas the association with moderate-or-severe thinness was not significant (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 0.97-2.06; p=0.070). Conclusion Gender disparity was evident in educational access and in chronic undernutrition (stunting) among children aged seven to 12 years in Jasra block, with girls disadvantaged on both. BMI-based thinness was higher among girls but did not reach statistical significance and should be interpreted as a trend. The findings support gender-sensitive school health services, community-based nutrition screening, household counseling on equitable food distribution, and active tracking of girls who are never enrolled or have dropped out.