Determinants of Child Malnutrition in West Bengal: A District-Level Analysis
Abstract: Child malnutrition remains a major public health concern in India, particularly at the regional level. The present study examines the determinants of child malnutrition in West Bengal using district-level data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). A Composite Malnutrition Index (CMI) is constructed using indicators of stunting, wasting, and underweight. It is used as the dependent variable to capture overall nutritional status. The study applies multiple linear regression analysis to assess the influence of maternal, household, environmental, healthcare, and nutritional factors on child malnutrition. The findings reveal that maternal undernutrition is the most significant determinant, highlighting the strong link between maternal and child health. Environmental and living condition variables, such as sanitation and access to electricity, also show significant negative effects, indicating that improved facilities contribute to better nutritional outcomes. An adequate diet is found to play an important role in reducing malnutrition. It suggests that targeted policy interventions focusing on high-risk districts, improving maternal nutrition, and strengthening basic infrastructure can help reduce malnutrition in the state.
Keywords: Child Malnutrition, Composite Malnutrition Index (CMI), Maternal Health, Living Conditions, Environmental factors, Health care, Nutritional Factors
How to Cite?: Dr. Jhuma Halder, "Determinants of Child Malnutrition in West Bengal: A District-Level Analysis", Volume 11 Issue 12, December 2022, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1532-1536, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR221206083707, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR221206083707