Child malnutrition in Saiha
Saiha ranks 1st of 8 districts in Mizoram for child stunting, highest first, above Mizoram's 29%. It rose 6.3 points since NFHS-4.
Saiha against Mizoram and India
| Measure | Saiha | NFHS-4 | Mizoram | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 43.8% | 37.5% | 28.9% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 7.7% | 11.6% | 9.8% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 3.4% | 4% | 4.9% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 17.6% | 16.7% | 12.7% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 11.1% | 4.2% | 10% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 46.4% | 21.1% | 46.4% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 44.2% | 27.9% | 34.8% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 9.3% | 11.1% | 5.3% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 7.9% | 6.7% | 13.4% | 11.3% |
| Babies under 6 months only breastfed | 72.1% | 75.5% | 67.9% | 63.7% |
Child stunting in Mizoram's districts
Water in Saiha
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Saiha can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Saiha?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 44% of children under five in Saiha district were stunted, 7.7% wasted and 18% underweight. Stunting is above Mizoram's 29% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Saiha?
Stunting in Saiha rose from 38% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 44% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 6.3 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 Saiha?
46% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Saiha were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 44% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Saiha?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Saiha 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 Mizoram.