This document presents data on child malnutrition in India and other countries. It shows that India has high rates of low birth weight (28%), underweight children under 5 (41%), wasting (16%), and stunting (38%). The data examines factors contributing to malnutrition like sanitation and hygiene practices, access to safe drinking water, mother and child care practices, and access to nutrition programs. Improving these underlying factors through access to healthcare, nutrition programs, safe drinking water, and sanitation could help reduce India's high child malnutrition rates.

1. Trends in Child Malnutrition
Source: NFHS-1, 2 and 3

2. Trends in Child Malnutrition
Source: NFHS-3

3. Trends in Malnutrition Among
Children Under Three Years
Source: NFHS-3

4. Nutritional Status of Children: India and other
SAARC and BRIC Countries (2000-2007)
Low Birth
weight
Under Five Underweight Children
(WHO Reference Population)
Wasting (Moderate &
Severe) (NCHS/WHO)
Stunting (Moderate &
Severe)
(NCHS/WHO)
43
19
38
4
-
-
6
-
11
-
1
4
33
7
54
41
16
36
14
3
40
-
13
25
BRIC
India*
Brazil
China
Russia
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Maldives
28
8
2
6
22
15
22
SAARC
Nepal
21
39
12
43
Pakistan
19
31
13
37
23
14
14
Sri Lanka
22
Source: The State of the World’s
Children Report, UNICEF 2009.

5. Under-nutrition Among Children Under Five
Years in Selected Countries
Source: NFHS-3

6. Source: NFHS-3

7. Determinants of Malnutrition
Outcomes
Immediate
Causes
Malnutrition
Inadequate dietary intake
Inadequate
access to food
Underlying Causes
Food Security Resources
Food Security Resources
•Income
•Income
•Diet Diversity
•Diet Diversity
•Quality of Food
•Quality of Food
•Food Transfer
•Food Transfer
Disease
Inadequate care for
mothers and children
mothers and children
and discrimination
and discrimination
against Women
against Women
Insufficient
Insufficient
health services
health services
Inadequate education/lack of
knowledge
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Environment and
Environment and
Unsafe drinking
Unsafe
water
water
Resources for Health
•Availability of public health
services
•Sanitation
Source: from UNICEF 1990; Jonsson 1993;
Smith, Haddad 2000 and Mehrotra 2003

8. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by Age
Source: NFHS-3

9. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by Residence
Source: NFHS-3

10. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by Mother’s
Education
Source: NFHS-3

11. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by Household Wealth
Source: NFHS-3

12. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by Caste/Tribe
Source: NFHS-3

13. Percentage of Households with Taps
as a Source of Drinking Water (2008-9)
Source: NSSO 65th round

14. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among Children
Under Five Years by Source of Drinking Water
Source: NFHS-3

15. Households with Improved Sanitation,
2002 and 2008-9 (in %age)
Source: NSS 58th and 65th rounds

16. Villages with Proportion of People still
Defecating in the Open, 6 States, 2008
None
20-40 per
cent
40-60 per
cent
5
Andhra Pradesh
<20 per
cent
4
1
Chhattisgarh
Maharashtra
60-80 per
cent
>80 per
cent
Total
10
4
6
5
1
10
36
4
6
7
1
60
Tamil Nadu
11
6
9
5
2
33
Uttar Pradesh
1
7
6
1
15
West Bengal
11
18
3
2
34
Total
6
64
39
29
20
4
162
Per cent of
Total
4
40
24
18
12
2
100
Source: UNICEF – TARU Primary Study 2008

17. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by Type of Toilet Facility
Source: NFHS-3

18. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by the Method of
Disposal of Children’s Stools
Source: NFHS-3

19. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among
Children Under Five Years by the Child’s
Weight at the Time of Birth
Source: NFHS-3

20. Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Among Children
Under Five Years by Mother’s Nutritional Status
Source: NFHS-3

21. Percentage of Anganwadi Centres
operational against total sanctioned
Source: ICDS Data Tables – 2011-12 http://wcd.nic.in/

22. Supplementary food received from an Anganwadi
Centre by Children Under Six Years
Source: NFHS-3

23. 6Months-6 years Beneficiaries of SNP
vis-à-vis below 6 Years Population
Source: ICDS Data Tables – 2011-12 http://wcd.nic.in/

24. Mid-day Meal Coverage against Total
Children Enrolled
Source: http://mdm.nic.in/QPR_Report2012.html