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Child undernutrition in India

In this paper, the authors have constructed a composite indicator of anthropometric failure (CIAF) that refines the Waterlow-3 tier classification, using a recent nation-wide household survey. Anthropometric measures of child malnutrition rely on height, weight, skin-fold thickness and age. The analysis of determinants of CIAF yields some new insights-specifically, the important role of food prices. There is a strong case for income growth together with food price stabilization in curbing child undernutrition. Education has the desired effect but it is less strong than expected. Improvement in the quality of home environment makes a difference too but it is not conditional on income or wealth alone.

 

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