Nutritional status of under 5 children improved: National Family Health Survey

As per the fact sheets of National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 (2015-16) released by the Ministry, Madhya Pradesh has shown an improvement in the nutrition situation since NFHS-3 (2005-06) as children under 5 years who are  stunted, wasted and  underweight have come down from 50% to 42%, 35% to 25.8% and  60% to 42.8% respectively. A statement containing district wise estimates of nutrition indicators for children under 5 from NFHS-4 is given below:

Malnutrition among children under age of 5 years in the districts of Madhya Pradesh, NFHS-4 (2015-16)

NFHS has not collected the information on deaths due to malnutrition. Malnutrition is a multifaceted, multidimensional & multi-sectoral problem. It is not a direct cause of death but it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections. Data on number of deaths due to malnutrition is not maintained centrally.

The various measures taken by the Ministry to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable population in the country including Madhya Pradesh are:

1.  Under National Health Mission (NHM), various interventions were implemented to improve the health of mother and children which have implications on nutritional status of children. These are:

• Promotion  of  appropriate  infant  and  young  child  feeding  practices (IYCF) that  include early initiation of  breastfeeding  and  exclusive  breastfeeding  till 6  months  of age  during  the Village Health and Nutrition Days and household visits for counseling by Accredited Social Health Activists.

• Treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres.

• Specific program to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies of Vitamin A and Iron & Folic Acid.  Vitamin A supplementation is provided for children till the age of 5 years.  Under National Iron plus initiative, bi-weekly Iron & Folic Acid supplementation is provided to children 6 to 60 months.

• Management of under-nutrition and common neonatal and childhood illnesses at community and facility level by training service providers in Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses.

• National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme for promotion of adequately iodated salt consumption at household level.

2. Nutrition Education to increase the awareness and bring about desired changes in the dietary practices including the promotion of breast feeding and dietary diversification is being encouraged under both Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) of Ministry of Women and Child Development and NHM under this Ministry.


3. The  National Food Security ACT, 2013 aims to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach,  by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.


4. Other schemes under different Ministries of Government of India, targeting improvement of nutritional status are as under:-

• Integrated Child Development Services Schemes (ICDS).


• Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG] - (SABLA).


• Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY).


• National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid Day Meal Programme).


• Improving the purchasing power of the people through various income generating schemes including Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.


• National Rural Drinking Water Programme.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.