An analytical study of socio – economic factors influencing the level of malnutrition in selected states of India

Human Development is closely related to health. Malnourished children are more vulnerable to infection and if not treated on time and may fall into the vicious cycle of Malnutritional-infection-Malnutrition. The primary objective of this research is to determine whether economic growth affects nutritional status or not and to understand the effect of other socio-economic factors on Malnutrition. The study has been conducted for three states namely Gujarat, Sikkim, and Bihar. Sikkim had the highest per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) while Bihar had the Lowest per capita NSDP. Researchers have compared Gujarat’s nutritional situation with Sikkim and Bihar using data from NFHS-4 & 5 reports. Malnutrition Index, Household Condition Index, and Women's Condition Index have been prepared and efforts have been made to measure the socio-economic factors that influence the level of Malnutrition. The results show that despite having the lowest per capita NSDP, Bihar’s nutritional status is far better than Gujarat’s Nutritional status. Gujarat's nutritional status is worsened in NFHS -5 as compared to NFHS-4 despite a stable Household Condition Index. This may be because of deprivation in Women Condition Index. While, a different situation in Sikkim's case is observed because despite decreasing the Household Condition and Women Condition Index, it has improved its nutritional status in NFHS- 5 compared to NFHS-4