Rural-urban Disparities in Child Malnutrition in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey-5 Using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure.

BACKGROUND: Eradicating malnutrition among children by the year 2030 is a key objective of Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UNDP. However, child malnutrition continues to pose a pressing public health concern in India, with malnutrition indicators being far above acceptable limits. The challenge of addressing the problem is further compounded by significant disparities in the levels of under-nutrition among under-five children across rural and urban areas. Understanding the extent and the contributing factors to these disparities are important for designing effective policies and targeted interventions. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to explore the rural-urban disparities in child malnutrition in India as demonstrated by the composite index of anthropometric failure, a combined measure that incorporates multiple anthropometric indicators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study uses the unit level data from National Family Health Survey-5, 2019-2021 and employs the Fairlie decomposition technique to determine the relative contributions of various factors, including individual, maternal and socio-economic status, to the rural-urban malnutrition gap. RESULTS: The findings reveal that mother's health and education are the key factors contributing to the gap, accounting for about 37.4% and 29.3%, respectively, of the total variance. CONCLUSION: The results emphasize the importance of targeted interventions that focus on socio-economic and maternal factors to bridge the disparities.