Connecting the dots: the role of WASH in nutritional pathways to childhood stunting in India

Beyond the direct threat of diarrheal diseases, inadequate WASH conditions are recognized as a major cause of impaired physical development in children. Analyzing NFHS-5 data for 206,025 Indian children, this study explores the link between WASH access andstunting, controlling for socio-demographic factors. With a 35.5% overall stunting rate, disadvantaged and lower-caste groups bear the highest burden. Improved WASH access significantly reduces stunting odds (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92–0.98), which can be particularly beneficial for poor households. Given persistent regional and socio-economic inequalities, national nutrition programs must integrate caste-and-equity-sensitive WASH strategies to effectively and sustainably reduce undernutrition across India.