Peer-reviewed article
Stunting and severe stunting among infants in India: the role of delayed introduction of complementary foods and community and household factors
Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami, Felix Akpojene Ogbo, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu, Zino Ugboma, Kingsley Agho ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined why some infants in India aged 6–8 months are stunted or severely stunted, focusing on delayed introduction of complementary foods. Using data from nearly 13,550 infants, researchers found that delayed feeding of solid or semi-solid foods was associated with higher rates of stunting. Maternal education and household wealth were protective factors that reduced stunting risk. The findings suggest that comprehensive nutrition policies targeting less-educated mothers with limited resources are needed to reduce stunting in India.
Key points
- Among infants aged 6–8 months who received no complementary foods, 22.0% were stunted and 10.0% were severely stunted
- Delayed introduction of complementary foods increased the odds of stunting by 24% and severe stunting by 21%
- High maternal education (secondary or higher) and household wealth were protective against both stunting and severe stunting
- The study called for comprehensive national nutrition policy actions targeting mothers with no schooling and limited resources
- Data came from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey covering 13,548 infants
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional survey study, so it shows associations rather than causal relationships. The data is from 2015–16 and may not reflect current conditions in India.
Abstract
Background: Delayed introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods (complementary feeding) and associated factors are related to stunting and severe stunting among children in many low- and middle-income countries. In India, however, there is limited evidence on the relationship between delayed complementary feeding and associated factors with stunting and severe stunting to advocate for policy interventions.Objectives: The present study investigated the relationship between delayed complementary feeding and associated factors with stunting and severe stunting among infants aged 6–8 months in India.Methods: Survey data on 13,548 infants aged 6–8 months were obtained from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey in India. Logistic regression (Generalized Linear Latent and Mixed Models [GLLAMM] with a logit link and binomial family) models that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to investigate the relationship between delayed complementary feeding and associated factors (community, household, maternal, child and health service factors) with stunting and severe stunting among infants aged 6–8 months in India.Results: The prevalence of stunting and severe stunting was 22.0% (95% CI: 21.0–23.7%) and 10.0% (95% CI: 9.0–11.0%) among infants aged 6–8 months who received no complementary foods, respectively. Delayed introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods was associated with stunting (adjusted Odd ratios [aOR] = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.09–1.41) and severe stunting (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01–1.45) among infants aged 6–8 months. High maternal education (secondary or higher education) and household wealth (middle, richer and richest) were protective against stunting and severe stunting.Conclusion: Delayed introduction of complementary foods and associated factors were related to stunting and severe stunting among infants aged 6–8 months in India. Reducing the proportion of infants who are stunted in India would require comprehensive national nutrition policy actions that target the sub-population of mothers with no schooling and limited resources.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Introduction of complementary foods (solid, semi-solid or soft foods) at the appropriate age
- Population
- Infants aged 6–8 months in India
Key finding
Delayed introduction of complementary foods was associated with 24% increased odds of stunting (aOR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.09–1.41)