Child malnutrition in Kasaragod
Kasaragod ranks 4th of 14 districts in Kerala for child stunting, highest first, above Kerala's 23%. It rose 6.6 points since NFHS-4.
Kasaragod against Kerala and India
| Measure | Kasaragod | NFHS-4 | Kerala | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 25.3% | 18.7% | 23.4% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 12.6% | 9.7% | 15.8% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 5.7% | 3.2% | 5.8% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 21.4% | 13.9% | 19.7% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 1.6% | 0.4% | 4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 34.3% | 37.7% | 39.4% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 35.4% | 35% | 36.3% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 9.4% | 13% | 10.1% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 12.2% | 28.3% | 23.5% | 11.3% |
| Babies under 6 months only breastfed | 68.2% | – | 55.5% | 63.7% |
Child stunting in Kerala's districts
Water in Kasaragod
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Kasaragod can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Kasaragod?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 25% of children under five in Kasaragod district were stunted, 13% wasted and 21% underweight. Stunting is above Kerala's 23% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Kasaragod?
Stunting in Kasaragod rose from 19% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 25% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 6.6 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 Kasaragod?
34% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Kasaragod were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a moderate public health problem. So were 35% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Kasaragod?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Kasaragod 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.