CURRENT SCENARIO OF WEALTH AND CHILD NUTRITION IN INDIA: MACRO AND MICRO LOOK

Abstract

The level and relationship of child health, wealth, and basic amenities are changing fast in India. How strong are the relationships of state wealth, i.e., state Gross Domestic Product and basic household amenities like sanitation facilities with child health? Using the published National Family Health Survey 2015-16 at a macro level, the paper compares the change of stunting, underweight and under-five mortality over ten years (National Family Health Survey 2005-06 to 2015-16) and explores how far child health indices are associated with state Gross Domestic Product. Though wealth and child health are positively associated in India, the strength of the relationship is declining over time, indicating that wealth per se may not guarantee the betterment of child health. Undertaking a case study with 510 children in a low-income community of Mumbai, we further establish that the availability of basic facilities and recent infections play a stronger role in determining child nutrition status when household wealth is controlled. Higher-income, more years of schooling, less crowding in a household, covered drainage system, the non-occurrence of Gastro intestine, and infectious disease are significantly associated with better child nutrition status. Sincere attention to policy on improving basic facilities and living environment to address child health issues has become mandatory. National Health Mission or health programs like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are good initiatives to focus on improving basic facilities and living environment to address child health issues.

Key Words: Wealth, Child health, Stunting, Slum, Mumbai