Child malnutrition in Kargil
Kargil ranks 1st of 2 districts in Ladakh for child stunting, highest first, above Ladakh's 31%. It fell 3.1 points since NFHS-4.
Kargil against Ladakh and India
| Measure | Kargil | NFHS-4 | Ladakh | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 36.5% | 39.6% | 30.5% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 17.7% | 6.8% | 17.5% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 10.5% | 3.1% | 9.1% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 21.8% | 20.3% | 20.4% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 14% | 4% | 13.4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 87.9% | 87.6% | 92.5% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 92% | 73.1% | 92.8% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 3.5% | 15.6% | 4.4% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 18.5% | 21.4% | 24% | 11.3% |
| Babies under 6 months only breastfed | 80.4% | 54.5% | 70.9% | 63.7% |
Child stunting in Ladakh's districts
- 1Kargil37%
- 2Leh (Ladakh)24%
Water in Kargil
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Kargil can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Kargil?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 37% of children under five in Kargil district were stunted, 18% wasted and 22% underweight. Stunting is above Ladakh's 31% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Kargil?
Stunting in Kargil fell from 40% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 37% 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 Kargil?
88% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Kargil were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 92% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Kargil?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Kargil 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 Ladakh.