MALNUTRITION

The Minister of Women and Child Development informed Lok Sabha the scenario of Malnutrition in India.

• The data on nutritional indicators of women and children across the country is captured under the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• As per NFHS – 4 (2015-16), 52.1% children under 5 years age are underweight and 49.3% are stunted and 31.3% are wasted.
• Further, 37.5% women (age 15-49 years) have chronic energy deficiency (BMI less than 18.5) among the tribal population of Rajasthan.
• Malnutrition is not a direct cause of death among children under five years of age; however, it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections. Therefore, data regarding child mortality due to malnutrition is not maintained by this Ministry.
• The overall child mortality rate as per NFHS- 4 is 9.4 which is declined from 18.4 as per previous NFHS- 3.
• For monitoring the level of malnutrition among the children (0-6 years of age), recently POSHAN Abhiyaan has been launched under which near real time monitoring is done through ICDS-CAS Mobile based Software Application.

                                                                                                                               Image Credits: http://bit.ly/2YqKpjs

Source: PIB