Prevalence and change detection of child growth failure phenomena among under-5 children: A comparative scrutiny from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Nowadays child growth failure phenomena are an enduring public health concern in lower & middle-income countries like India. West Bengal is a northeastern state of India where child growth failure incidents are predominately relevant which can cause morbidity and mortality among under-5 children. Methods: The district-level data of child growth failure indices were extracted from the district fact sheets of West Bengal state, published by NFHS, India. This study is based upon two-time frames of the NFHS (NFHS-4 & NFHS-5) series. District wise change detection of child growth failure indices was estimated by differencing the last series prevalence from the previous series prevalence and spatial distribution of current child growth failure indices has been shown through thematic mapping. Result: Results revealed that the prevalence of stunted children is increased across 7 districts whereas wasted from 10 districts and underweight from 9 districts of West Bengal. As per data reported in the NFHS-5 fact sheet, there are still several districts in West Bengal where the prevalence of stunting, wasted, and underweight children have remained more than 30%. Conclusion: District level direct public intervention programs to enhance parent's education, their household's standard of living, and childhood health care facilities should be given more priority to combat the children's growth failure problem in high priority districts. This study will be beneficial for policymakers and health workers to understand the dynamic nature of prevalence and changes of child growth failure indices across the districts in West Bengal.

Keywords

• Child growth failure
• Stunting
• Wasting
• Underweight
• NFHS-5