Household and individual factors associated with undernutrition of children < 3 years from India

Objective To examine the prevalence and predictors of undernutrition in children aged < 3 years in India. Method This is a secondary data analysis of the 2005–2006 National Health and Family Survey (NFHS‐III) of India. Descriptive and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed. Result Undernutrition in the forms of stunting (55.8%), underweight (47.0%) and wasting (29.0%) were highest in the East region. Anemia (81.5%) was most prevalent in the Central west region. Lower maternal literacy, rural residency and low economic status were independent predictors of child undernutrition. Children consuming diet of poor quality were 70.0% less likely to be of normal nutrition status, while those with up‐to‐date immunization were more likely to have normal weight‐for‐height (poor diet* up‐to‐date immunization: OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1 – 4.5) and Hb level (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.1 – 5.3). Household structure had no significant main effect on child's nutritional status. However, children from joint households with grandparents present and consuming diet of medium quality were twice as likely to have a normal linear growth (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1–3.3) than children from nuclear households. Conclusion These results indicate that urban‐rural and economic disparities are the major contributors of nutritional outcomes of children in India that needs to be addressed through programs and policies.