Prevalence and Correlates of Anthropometric Failure Among Children Aged 0-23 Months in India: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey (2019-2021).

This study examined malnutrition in Indian children under 2 years old using nationally representative survey data from 2019-2021. Nearly half of all children showed at least one form of growth failure, with stunting (short height for age) being most common. The research identified key risk factors including low birth weight, maternal malnutrition, poverty, and inadequate child diet. These findings suggest that reducing child malnutrition in India requires addressing multiple causes at once.

Key points

• 48% of children aged 0-23 months in India experience anthropometric failure (stunting, wasting, or underweight)
• Low birth weight children are 1.67 times more likely to have anthropometric failure
• Children born to undernourished mothers are 1.41 times more likely to have anthropometric failure
• Children in the poorest wealth quintiles are 1.76 times more likely to have anthropometric failure
• Children lacking minimum acceptable diet are 1.10 times more likely to have anthropometric failure

Limitations

This is a cross-sectional survey that measures prevalence and associations at one point in time, so it cannot establish causation or show how malnutrition develops over time. The study identifies correlates but does not evaluate interventions or test whether addressing these factors would improve child nutrition.