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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Madhepura

46%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Madhepura ranks 9th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, above Bihar's 43%. It fell 5.5 points since NFHS-4.

21%children under 5 wasted
44%children under 5 underweight
68%children 6-59 months anaemic
6.9%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Madhepura against Bihar and India

MeasureMadhepuraNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)46.3%51.8%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)20.6%24.2%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted6.2%9.1%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight43.5%49.2%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight1.5%1.6%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic67.7%61.4%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic65.7%57.5%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)32%32.9%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet6.9%3%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed64.1%64.4%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 Madhepura

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

Groundwater in MadhepuraRainfall in MadhepuraWater table in Madhepura

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Madhepura?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 46% of children under five in Madhepura district were stunted, 21% wasted and 44% underweight. Stunting is above Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Madhepura?

Stunting in Madhepura fell from 52% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 46% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 5.5 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 Madhepura?

68% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Madhepura 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 Madhepura?

No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Madhepura 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.