Alarming data: 33 percent of children in Telangana suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition

Telangana has the second-highest rate of child stunting in South India at 33%, trailing only Karnataka. Public health experts link this to chronic malnutrition, poor maternal health, and inadequate sanitation, with NFHS data painting a grim picture of under-five children’s health.

Hyderabad: It is shocking but true! 33 percent of children aged up to 5 years in Telangana suffer from stunted growth, which is a clear indicator of malnutrition. Stunting, or a low height-for-age, is a sign of chronic undernutrition that reflects a failure to receive adequate nutrition over a long period of time.

Barring Karnataka, where 35 percent of children suffer from stunting, Telangana has the highest percentage of children with stunted growth among other Southern Indian States. Kerala has the lowest at 23 percent, followed by Tamilnadu at 25 per cent, and Andhra Pradesh at 31 percent.

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According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data, stunting is a sign of chronic undernutrition that reflects failure to receive adequate nutrition over a long period. Stunting can also be affected by recurrent and chronic illness.

Overall, in India, 36 percent of children under five years are stunted, while 19 percent of children under age five years are wasted, which means they are too thin for their height and is also a sign of acute undernutrition. About 32 percent of children under age five years are underweight while 3 percent of children are overweight.

Why do children in Telangana suffer from stunted growth?

According to public health experts, there are multiple factors at play behind a high prevalence of stunting among children. Some of them include insufficient food intake, poor dietary quality, inadequate breastfeeding, malnourishment among mothers and frequent and chronic infections.

“Sometimes genetics too play an important role. However, the vital reason for stunting has always been malnourishment. Some of the other causes are poor water, sanitation, hygiene, food insecurity,” public health specialists from Hyderabad said.

Important observations by NFHS on stunting:

• Prevalence of under nutrition same among girls and boys
• Stunting increases with a child’s age from 6-8 months through 6-23 months, and decreases thereafter.
• 44 percent of children who were reported to be very small at birth are stunted
• Children born to thin mothers are more likely to be stunted, wasted, and underweight
• Stunting is higher among children in rural areas (37 percent) than urban areas (30 percent)
• 46 percent children born to mothers with no schooling are stunted
• Prevalence of stunting decreases steadily with an increase in wealth

Statewide prevalence of stunting:

Karnataka: 35 percent; Telangana 33 percent; Andhra Pradesh 31 percent; Tamil Nadu: 25 percent; Kerala: 23 percent; India: 36 percent; Meghalaya (highest): 47 percent.