Status of Child Malnutrition and Child Mortality in India: A State-Level Analysis

Abstract

Child malnutrition and child mortality are serious concerns for the Indian population, yet there has been marked improvement over the last few decades. Health, defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, goes beyond the mere absence of disease, and therefore, child health is a multidimensional issue. In this paper, the authors examine the status and trends of child malnutrition and mortality, as well as inter-state differences, as indicated by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3, NFHS-4, and NFHS-5). To assess child health outcomes and their inequality across Indian states, the analysis uses major indicators of stunting, underweight, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR). The results show that child mortality and malnutrition have decreased significantly over the years, but large regional gaps remain. States such as Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh still record higher rates of child malnutrition and mortality, whereas states such as Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram perform comparatively better. The paper also identifies important socioeconomic and healthcare factors, such as maternal education, immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, access to maternal and child healthcare services, and institutional deliveries, that play a significant role in lowering child mortality. On the other hand, early age pregnancy is positively and significantly related to infant mortality. The paper concludes that although national-level improvement can be observed, inter-state disparities remain, making it necessary to implement policy interventions focused at the state level. Enhancing the health care system, female education, and nutritional interventions are key to ensuring equitable child health in India.