Developments in Undernutrition in Indian Children Under Five: A Decompositional Analysis

Peng Nie, Anu Rammohan, Wencke Gwozdz, Alfonso Sousa-Poza

    Research output: Working paperResearch

    Abstract

    This study uses two waves (2004-2005 and 2011-2012) of the nationally representative Indian Human Development Survey to conduct a systematic decompositional analysis of the demographic and socio-economic factors contributing to undernutrition among children under five in India. The analytic method combines three types of decomposition: Blinder-Oaxaca, non-linear, and unconditional quantile. Child undernutrition is measured by z-scores for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and for the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF). Although our results show modest improvements on some measures, undernutrition among India's young children remains widespread. The improvements we do identify are partly attributable to changes in household wealth and maternal characteristics like body mass index and education.
    Original languageEnglish
    Place of PublicationBonn
    PublisherIZA
    Number of pages25
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016
    SeriesIZA Discussion Paper
    Number9893

    Keywords

    • Child undernutrition
    • India
    • Decomposition

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