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Understanding the impact of socio-economic factors on child malnutrition in India with an emphasis on no-toilet facilities: Evidence from national family health surveys

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Abstract

In the twenty-first century, when the world is experiencing significant scientific advancements, technological advancements, and medical advancements, millions of children continue to suffer from malnutrition, which poses a profound challenge to human civilization. Developing and underdeveloped countries, including India, are among those affected by this issue. India is actively addressing this problem, and there has been a reduction in the prevalence of child malnutrition over time. However, there is still a long way to go in fully addressing this issue. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the possible causes and impacts of various factors on child malnutrition. Nevertheless, it is crucial to conduct longitudinal studies to understand the evolving effects of these factors on malnutrition. This study specifically focuses on the status of child malnutrition and its associated factors over time, particularly emphasising the absence of toilet facilities. The analysis is based on data from the 4th and 5th National Family Health Survey (NFHS) rounds. Descriptive statistics, bivariate scatter plots, bivariate LISA, and Morn's I index were employed to analyse the empirical results. The study's findings reveal that the absence of toilet facilities negatively impacts child health and positively correlates with malnutrition. While there has been some improvement, as the latest NFHS report indicates, the desired goal has not yet been achieved. Another contributing factor to the increased prevalence of malnutrition among children under the age of five is diarrhea, which is associated with the absence of toilet facilities. Additionally, the mother's education consistently emerges as a significant factor across all survey years, playing a role in reducing malnutrition. Based on these findings, it is crucial to implement decentralized policies with central-state cooperation, increase the budget allocation for child and maternal healthcare, and prioritize the improvement of sanitation facilities.

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  1. Centre for the Study of Regional Development (CSRD), School of Social Sciences (SSS), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, 110067, India

    Dilwar Hussain & Bapan Biswas

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The paper was conceptualized by Hussain and Biswas. Database computation and graphical presentation were carried out by Hussain, while the manuscript was written by Hussain and Biswas. The final revision and editing of the manuscript was done by Biswas.

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Correspondence to Bapan Biswas.

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Hussain, D., Biswas, B. Understanding the impact of socio-economic factors on child malnutrition in India with an emphasis on no-toilet facilities: Evidence from national family health surveys. GeoJournal 89, 16 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-024-11028-3

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