PREVALENCE OF CHILD MALNUTRITION IN WEST BENGAL (INDIA) IN RELATION TO MATERNAL HEALTH STATUS

The world population is galloping ahead at the rate of 100,000 births per day.More than two-third of these newborn will suffer from severe malnutrition.Majority of the malnourished will be born in overpopulated and underdeveloped countries.This paper studies the prevalence of malnutrition in India particularly, West Bengal.It shows the effect of demographic and socioeconomic variables on the nutritional condition of the child.Study uses secondary data of NFHS and the indices of child malnutrition are: stunting,wasting, and underweight.Methodology includes cross tabulation,Pearson’s chi-square and Logistic Regression.The prevalence of malnutrition is mainly due to retarded growth of height, (long term insufficient food intake).Children of 36-59months were found worst malnourished.Significant impact of breast feeding was found on underweight children.Sex of the child does not have much effect on the nutritional status.Mothers with higher education have shown better health status of child.It is high among children born within two years of a previous birth and children of higher birth orders.Malnutrition is common for children of underweight and anemic mothers.Interestingly it is found that overweight mothers are more likely to give birth to underweight children.
Keywords: Malnutrition,West Bengal,Regression,Health,Underweight