Over half of all Indian under-5 children are anaemic
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2015-16, over 58% of all children aged below five years are suffering from anaemia, i.e. they have insufficient haemoglobin in their blood. This alarming condition is primarily a result of poverty which leaves children exhausted, vulnerable to infections and could affect their brain development.
Over half of all pregnant women are anaemic
The proportion of anaemic children has declined from 69% in 2005-06 to 58% in 2015-16. The 58% figure translates to a total of 7.2 crore children. More than half of all pregnant women are also anaemic, which automatically leads to their newborn child being weak. Overall, 23% of men and 53% of women aged 14-49 are anaemic.
Stunting and underweight parameters improve, wasting worsens
The NFHS survey revealed that 38% of all children under five are stunted in 2015-16, 21% are wasted while 36% are underweight. In 2005-06 stunting stood at 48%, wasting at 20% and underweight at 43%. The WHO defines wasting as low weight as compared to height, stunting as low height for age and underweight as low weight for age.
WHO says parameters indicate "poor socio-economic conditions"
The World Health Organization said high proportions of these parameters indicate "poor socio-economic conditions" and "suboptimal health and/or nutritional conditions," which refers to inadequate food, unhealthy living conditions and public health facilities.
