Open AccessSevere wasting among Indian infants <6 months: Findings from the National Family Health Survey 4
Author(s) -
Choudhary Tarun Shankar,
Srivastava Akanksha,
Chowdhury Ranadip,
Taneja Sunita,
Bahl Rajiv,
Martines Jose,
Bhan Maharaj Kishan,
Bhandari Nita
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.12866
Subject(s) - wasting , medicine , odds ratio , anthropometry , pediatrics , logistic regression , odds , low birth weight , birth weight , psychological intervention , demography , pregnancy , psychiatry , sociology , biology , genetics
Burden and risk factors for wasting in the first 6 months of life among Indian children are not well documented. We used data from India's National Family Health Survey 4 to estimate the prevalence of severe wasting (weight for length < ‐3 SD ) among 18,898 infants under 6 months of age. We also examined the association of severe wasting with household, maternal, and child‐related factors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of severe wasting among infants less than 6 months of age was 14.8%, ranging from 3.5 to 21% across states. Low birth weight (<2,500 g; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.40, 95% CI [1.19, 1.65]), nonutilization of supplementary nutrition by mother during lactation (AOR 1.23, 95% CI [1.05, 1.43]), and anthropometric assessment during summer (AOR 1.37, 95% CI [1.13, 1.65]) and monsoon months (AOR 1.53, 95% CI [1.20, 1.95]) were associated with higher odds of severe wasting. Infants aged 2 to 3 months (AOR 0.78, 95% CI [0.66, 0.93]) and 4 to 5 months (AOR 0.65, 95% CI [0.55, 0.73]) had lower odds of severe wasting as compared with the 0‐ to 1‐month category. This analysis reveals a high burden of severe wasting in infants less than 6 months in India. Preventive interventions must be targeted at reducing low birth weight due to fatal growth restriction and prematurity. Appropriate care practices at facilities and postdischarge with extra attention to those born small and sick can prevent further deterioration in nutritional status.