Child malnutrition in Ernakulam (Kochi, Cochin)
Ernakulam ranks 8th of 14 districts in Kerala for child stunting, highest first, below Kerala's 23%. It rose 9.6 points since NFHS-4.
Ernakulam against Kerala and India
| Measure | Ernakulam | NFHS-4 | Kerala | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 22% | 12.4% | 23.4% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 17.1% | 15.9% | 15.8% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 7.4% | 7.9% | 5.8% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 19.4% | 12% | 19.7% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 5.4% | 1.3% | 4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 36.4% | 23.4% | 39.4% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 31.7% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 8% | 7.3% | 10.1% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 11.3% | 23.9% | 23.5% | 11.3% |
Child stunting in Kerala's districts
Water in Ernakulam
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Ernakulam can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Ernakulam?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 22% of children under five in Ernakulam district were stunted, 17% wasted and 19% underweight. Stunting is below Kerala's 23% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Ernakulam?
Stunting in Ernakulam rose from 12% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 22% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 9.6 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 Ernakulam?
36% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Ernakulam were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a moderate public health problem. So were 32% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Ernakulam?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Ernakulam 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 Kerala.