Child malnutrition in Kottayam
Kottayam ranks 6th of 14 districts in Kerala for child stunting, highest first, level with Kerala's 23%. It rose 1.4 points since NFHS-4.
Kottayam against Kerala and India
| Measure | Kottayam | NFHS-4 | Kerala | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 23.4% | 22% | 23.4% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 8.4% | 16.2% | 15.8% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 2.3% | 6.2% | 5.8% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 17.3% | 11.3% | 19.7% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 36.8% | 33.8% | 39.4% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 38.7% | 28.8% | 36.3% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 12.3% | 5.3% | 10.1% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 19% | 23.8% | 23.5% | 11.3% |
Child stunting in Kerala's districts
Water in Kottayam
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Kottayam can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Kottayam?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 23% of children under five in Kottayam district were stunted, 8.4% wasted and 17% underweight. Stunting is level with Kerala's 23% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Kottayam?
Stunting in Kottayam rose from 22% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 23% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 1.4 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 Kottayam?
37% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Kottayam were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a moderate public health problem. So were 39% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Kottayam?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Kottayam 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.