Child malnutrition is measured by standard anthropometric indicators of height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-age (WAZ)
According to a recent study conducted by researchers at West Bengal State University, Vidyasagar University and Indian Statistical Institute in West Bengal, higher percentages of stunted and underweight children are in rural areas compared to children in urban areas in India.
Higher percentages of stunted and underweight children are found among households of poor wealth index category. In India, the percentage of underweight children is higher in Hindu religious group, and the lowest percentage of stunted children is observed among children belonging to other religious group.
The study has also revealed that mother’s educational attainment has statistically significant influence on nutritional status of children. Mother’s occupational status also plays an important role in determining the nutritional status of children, mothers engaged in agricultural work are more likely to have stunted children in India than not working mother and the result is significant. Chance of getting underweight is higher among children of mother’s engaged in agricultural work and it is highly significant in case of India.