Persisting malnutrition in Chandigarh: decadal underweight trends and impact of ICDS program

Decline in malnutrition levels has been dismal since the 1990s. We ascertained decadal trend in childhood nutritional status between 1997 and 2007 in Chandigarh, India and assessed impact of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) on childhood undernutrition. A total of 803 under-five children, 547 children between 12-23 months age, and 218 women with an infant child were recruited for the study. Findings of present study were compared with another methodologically similar study (1997) from Chandigarh and Reproductive and Child Health Rapid Household Survey (1998) to draw decadal trends. Prevalence of underweight among under-five children remained almost stagnant in the last one decade from 51.6%; (1997) to 50.4%; (2007). There was insignificant difference (P=0.3) in prevalence of underweight among children registered under ICDS program (52.1%;) and those not registered (48.4%;) in 2007. Other health and service provision indicators had mixed results in the past decade. Health services utilization was poorest in urban slums.