Household Structure and Nutritional Status of Children & Women: Evidence from National Family Health Survey 2005-06

India has the highest incidence of childhood malnutrition in the world. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2005 – 06 examined the effects of mother’s nutrition, education and socioeconomic factors on the nutritional status of children and women. Objective: To assess the association between household structure and other socioeconomic status on the nutritional status of children and women in India. Methodology: Data analysis was done using NFHS-III, besides cross tabulations, a regression analysis was done for two states: Kerala and Orissa to understand the factors influencing nutritional status. Child nutritional status was measured using anthropometric indices: height-for-age and weight-for-height and body mass index (BMI) for women. Result: Children belonging to ST caste and lower socio economic status are more severely malnourished in nuclear family as compared to non nuclear family in both the states. Percentage of thin women is high in nuclear family rather than non-nuclear family belonging to ST caste and higher illiteracy rate. Conclusion: Positive relation between household structure, socio economic status and nutritional status was seen in both the states. Recommendation: Better socioeconomic status of women and literacy programs could play an important role in improving the nutritional status of children and women.