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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Banka

47%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Banka ranks 8th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, above Bihar's 43%. It fell 2.9 points since NFHS-4.

27%children under 5 wasted
46%children under 5 underweight
78%children 6-59 months anaemic
2.8%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Banka against Bihar and India

MeasureBankaNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)46.7%49.6%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)26.9%26%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted11%9.3%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight45.8%48.5%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight5.2%1.3%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic77.8%70.4%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic65.9%67%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)23.8%32%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet2.8%5.7%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed56.9%54.3%58.9%63.7%

Child stunting in Bihar's districts

  1. 1Sitamarhi54%
  2. 2Sheikhpura54%
  3. 3Araria50%
  4. 4Nawada49%
  5. 5Purba Champaran49%
  6. 6Saharsa48%
  7. 7Gaya47%
  8. 8Banka47%
  9. 9Madhepura46%
  10. 10Arwal46%
  11. 11Darbhanga45%
  12. 12Kaimur (Bhabua)44%
  13. 13Samastipur44%
  14. 14Katihar44%
  15. 15Pashchim Champaran44%
  16. 16Purnia44%
  17. 17Madhubani43%
  18. 18Jamui43%
  19. 19Lakhisarai43%
  20. 20Muzaffarpur43%
  21. 21Nalanda43%
  22. 22Supaul42%
  23. 23Jehanabad41%
  24. 24Aurangabad41%
  25. 25Bhojpur41%
  26. 26Bhagalpur40%
  27. 27Rohtas40%
  28. 28Saran40%
  29. 29Buxar40%
  30. 30Kishanganj39%
  31. 31Vaishali38%
  32. 32Begusarai38%
  33. 33Siwan37%
  34. 34Munger36%
  35. 35Khagaria35%
  36. 36Patna35%
  37. 37Sheohar34%
  38. 38Gopalganj34%

Water in Banka

Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Banka can grow and what families can drink.

Groundwater in BankaRainfall in BankaWater table in Banka

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Banka?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 47% of children under five in Banka district were stunted, 27% wasted and 46% underweight. Stunting is above Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Banka?

Stunting in Banka fell from 50% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 47% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 2.9 points. District estimates come from a few hundred children each, so a change of a few points can be chance.

How many children are anaemic in Banka?

78% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Banka were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 66% of women aged 15 to 49.

Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Banka?

No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Banka shares these figures. The local anganwadi keeps growth records for the children it serves.

Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21, IIPS and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, district factsheet, tabulated by pratapvardhan/NFHS-5 (CC BY 4.0). All of Bihar.