Skip to content
Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Sheikhpura

54%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Sheikhpura ranks 2nd of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, above Bihar's 43%. It rose 7.2 points since NFHS-4.

16%children under 5 wasted
38%children under 5 underweight
80%children 6-59 months anaemic
5.5%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Sheikhpura against Bihar and India

MeasureSheikhpuraNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)53.6%46.4%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)16.3%28.9%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted7.7%10.8%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight37.6%51.7%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight5.6%0.8%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic80.1%66%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic69.5%66.8%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)24.1%35.6%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet5.5%16.9%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed81.7%41.2%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 Sheikhpura

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

Groundwater in SheikhpuraRainfall in SheikhpuraWater table in Sheikhpura

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Sheikhpura?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 54% of children under five in Sheikhpura district were stunted, 16% wasted and 38% underweight. Stunting is above Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Sheikhpura?

Stunting in Sheikhpura rose from 46% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 54% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 7.2 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 Sheikhpura?

80% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Sheikhpura were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 70% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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