Environmental, Socio-Demographic and Behavioral Factors of Stunting in Children Under 2 Years of Age in Rural Gujarat...

The global burden of malnutrition affects millions of children. Stunting, known as the chronic form of malnutrition, attacks the overall growth and development of the child. A child who is stunted is most likely to suffer from irreversible physical and mental damage. The study aims at formative research to identify and document various determinants of stunting in rural India.

The study was conducted in Kherol village of Sabarkantha district. Through an ethnographic approach, eight children (four stunted and four non-stunted) under the age of 2 years were enrolled in the study. For identifying the determinants of stunting, the children were observed for three consecutive days (approx. 12 hours a day) by researchers after obtaining consent from the parents. The observations were then analyzed based on the broad themes that emerged from the study.

The observations were classified in to themes and analysis was conducted. The themes identified for analysis were feeding practices, food hygiene, animal exposure and sanitation and hygiene. Consumption of packet and junk food was found to be more among, stunted children. Families of children from non-stunted group maintained a better personal hygiene. Frequency of breastfeeding was found more among children of non-stunted group. Practice of handwashing after animal exposure was found poor among members of children who were stunted.

Improper feeding and poor hygiene and sanitation practices have a potential to jeopardize the nutritional status of young children and can be the mainspring for children to suffer from malnutrition and its lifelong consequences.