Child undernutrition in India

Abstract

Different anthropometric dimensions of child undernutrition/malnutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) are typically analysed separately while children suffering from more than one anthropometric failure are more susceptible to infectious diseases (for example, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection). A composite index of anthropometric failure is constructed, and its determinants are analysed. Multiple anthropometric failures are also found to be linked to infectious diseases.