Assessing the Health Impact of India's Inequalities: Child Malnutrition in Rural Chhattisgarh, India (2013)

Undergraduate: Kavya Sekar

Faculty Advisor: Amanda Thompson
Department: Anthropology

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India has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world. At a national level, child malnutrition is associated with gender inequality, tribal status and poor rural infrastructure. This study explores the local context of child malnutrition among tribal groups in rural Bastar, Chhattisgarh. The weights, heights and arm circumferences were collected from 88 children and their mothers from seven villages. Survey questionnaires probed each family¿s food/healthcare access, gender preferences and maternal health. Village focus groups explored perspectives surrounding child health. Chi square, t-tests and logistic regressions were then used to find associations between malnutrition and other factors. There was a high level of wasting (low weight for height) compared to the national average. Children living in large families far away from the city, whose mothers thought they ate enough food and/or who were introduced solid foods before six months of age were more likely to be malnourished. Families also cited difficulties in food access due to the seasonality of farming and the limitations of the government programs. Access to quality healthcare facilities also varied based on village proximity to the city. This study therefore shows that associated factors with child malnutrition occur at both the household and societal level. Economic inequalities between rural and urban areas in India must be addressed to improve food and healthcare access for rural children.