Page 66 - IJPS-10-3

International Journal of

Population Studies

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Associated factors of child wasting among

children aged 0 – 23 months in India: Analysis of
the National Family Health Survey-5

2†
1†
Shivam Pandey , Jyoti Sharma *, and Mumtaj Ali 3
1 Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India
2 Indian Institute of Public Health Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India, India
3 Centre for Chronic Disease Control, India

Abstract

The enduringly high prevalence of child wasting (weight-for-height-2SD) in India is a
significant cause for concern. The objective of this study is to identify areas with high
incidence of wasting among children aged 0 – 23 months and to uncover the factors
influencing wasting among young children in India. The analysis utilized individual
and district-level data from the National Family Health Survey-5 in 2019 – 2021.
The wasting prevalence exceeding 30% was found in 81 districts, with 501 districts
surpassing 15%. Our analysis indicated that children from the poorest households
† These authors contributed equally (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43 – 1.79), those
to this work.
lacking access to improved sanitation facilities (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.11 – 1.25),
*Corresponding author: belonging to other backward class families (AOR =1.12, 95% CI = 1.04 – 1.20), and
Jyoti Sharma
(jyoti@iiphd.org) born to mothers with body mass index (BMI) <18.5 (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.23 –
1.37) faced higher odds of wasting. In addition, low birth weight (<2500 g) increased
Citation: Pandey, S., Sharma, J., & the odds of wasting by 27% (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.20 – 1.36). The study further
Ali, M. (2024). Associated factors of
child wasting among children aged found that a minimum acceptable diet and female gender had protective effects
0 – 23 months in India: Analysis on wasting among children aged 6 – 23 months. These findings underscore the
of the National Family Health need for a comprehensive programmatic response to addressing wasting in young
Survey-5. International Journal of
Population Studies, 10(3): 60-68. children. Urgent policies and programmatic actions are warranted, with a specific
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.453 focus on strengthening the care of low birth weight and premature babies, as well
Received: January 28, 2023 as promoting optimal child feeding practices. There is a call for intensified nutrition
services as an integral component of routine health services for mothers. Early
Accepted: November 17, 2023
identification and management of wasting and counseling during pre-conception
Published Online: April 22, 2024 and pregnancy should be prioritized.
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the Keywords: Child wasting; Undernutrition; Early childhood development; National Family
Creative Commons Attribution Health Survey; India
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Nutrition serves as the cornerstone of human development, essential for optimal
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional growth, cognitive abilities, learning capacity, and economic productivity. Recognized as
affiliations. a highly cost-effective intervention, nutrition plays a pivotal role in poverty reduction,

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 60 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.453