Child malnutrition in Palakkad
Palakkad ranks 2nd of 14 districts in Kerala for child stunting, highest first, above Kerala's 23%. It rose 9.5 points since NFHS-4.
Palakkad against Kerala and India
| Measure | Palakkad | NFHS-4 | Kerala | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 29.7% | 20.2% | 23.4% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 21.7% | 10.3% | 15.8% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 9% | 4.1% | 5.8% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 27.7% | 19.1% | 19.7% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 1.1% | 0.8% | 4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 51.9% | 41.1% | 39.4% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 49.6% | 42.3% | 36.3% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 12.9% | 13.5% | 10.1% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 23.7% | 16.9% | 23.5% | 11.3% |
Child stunting in Kerala's districts
Water in Palakkad
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Palakkad can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Palakkad?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 30% of children under five in Palakkad district were stunted, 22% wasted and 28% underweight. Stunting is above Kerala's 23% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Palakkad?
Stunting in Palakkad rose from 20% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 30% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 9.5 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 Palakkad?
52% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Palakkad were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 50% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Palakkad?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Palakkad 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.