Publication:

Spatial determinants of child undernutrition in Chitrakoot: integrating NFHS-5 evidence with district nutrition committee insights

Background Child undernutrition remains a major public health concern in many districts of rural India, and Chitrakoot represents one of the most persistent high-burden areas. Despite national progress, NFHS-5 shows that 47.5% of children in the district are stunted, 24.8% are wasted, and 12% are severely wasted substantially higher than state and national averages. Understanding the structural and behavioral drivers of this stagnation is essential for strengthening district-level action.

Methods This study draws exclusively on secondary data, including NFHS-5 district, state, and national fact sheets, supplemented with administrative insights from the District Nutrition Committee (DNC) meeting held in December 2023. A descriptive and comparative analytical approach was used to examine nutrition, IYCF practices, WASH indicators, maternal health, and socio-economic conditions. Interpretation was guided by four established pathways influencing child nutrition: dietary utilization, WASH and infection risk, socio-economic capability, and health system access.

Results Findings highlight consistently poor complementary feeding, low dietary diversity, and weak exclusive breastfeeding practices. Sanitation coverage remains inadequate, contributing to recurrent infections and high wasting. Maternal capability indicators education, ANC uptake, and IFA adherence are markedly low. Programme gaps identified by the DNC, including stock-outs, irregular VHNDs, and weak convergence, further constrain progress.

Conclusions Child undernutrition in Chitrakoot is shaped by overlapping vulnerabilities that extend beyond food availability. Addressing these requires integrated action across nutrition, WASH, maternal health, and local governance systems.