What Makes Inequalities in Nutritional Status of Children: An Analysis from NFHS-3 Data in EAG Sates of India

Ritesh Ranjan Pushkar, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Despite of remarkable economic growth a large proportion of Indian population still lacks the access to adequate food which manifests in poor nutritional status. This paper attempts to identify the determinants of child nutrition, which leads the inequality among children in EAG (Empowered Action Group) states using NFHS-3 (2005-06) data. Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) has been used to assess the nutritional status of children. Bi-variate and multi-variate techniques have been used for the analysis and concentration index has been prepared to show the inequalities among children across socio-economic status. Results indicate that economic and social status, and education and BMI of mother plays a vital role in nutritional status. The percentage of no failure is very low in each of the EAG state, but there are evidences of unequal distribution across the various demographic and socioeconomic variables. The highest inequalities lie across economic status followed by educational level of mother and social status.