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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Sitamarhi

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

Sitamarhi ranks 1st of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, above Bihar's 43%. It fell 3.1 points since NFHS-4.

16%children under 5 wasted
41%children under 5 underweight
70%children 6-59 months anaemic
16%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Sitamarhi against Bihar and India

MeasureSitamarhiNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)54.2%57.3%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)16.2%15.8%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted4.7%4.6%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight40.8%47.7%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight2.2%1%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic70%69%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic61.7%59.8%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)31.8%33.6%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet16.3%8.8%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed63.7%38.4%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 Sitamarhi

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

Groundwater in SitamarhiRainfall in SitamarhiWater table in Sitamarhi

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Sitamarhi?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 54% of children under five in Sitamarhi district were stunted, 16% wasted and 41% underweight. Stunting is above Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Sitamarhi?

Stunting in Sitamarhi fell from 57% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 54% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 3.1 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 Sitamarhi?

70% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Sitamarhi were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 62% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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