International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics

The International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics is a peer-reviewed publication that covers original research articles in Nutritional Sciences, Food Sciences, Food Chemistry, and Dietetics. It focuses on various topics including medical nutrition therapy, public health nutrition, biotechnology, food environment and sustainability, plant-based diets and foods, maternal and child nutrition, malnutrition, food choice and insecurity, food service systems, leadership and management, and dietetics education. The journal also encourages papers on Nutrition Epidemiology and Global Nutritional problems, as well as survey articles on topics like Obesity, Diabetes, and Dietetics Education.

Submit Article

EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD INFRASTRUCTURE, MATERNAL HEALTH, AND CHILDHOOD MALNUTRITION: A DISTRICT-LEVEL ANALYSIS IN GUJARAT, INDIA

Authors

  • Deeksha Malviya
  • Sangeeta Sirohi

Keywords:

infrastructure, childhood malnutrition, regional disparities, national family health survey-5 (NFHS-5), maternal health

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17654/2347527726001

Abstract

Childhood malnutrition remains a persistent public health challenge in many regions, including Gujarat, India. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between infrastructure, maternal health indicators,  and childhood malnutrition at the district level in Gujarat. Utilizing secondary data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), this study examines the prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 years old and its association with various infrastructure factors, including access to improved sources of drinking water, sanitation facilities, electricity, and clean cooking fuel. Additionally, maternal health indicators such as antenatal care visits and iron-folic acid consumption are analyzed to understand their influence on childhood malnutrition. The methodology involves conducting correlation analysis to identify any significant relationships between infrastructure variables, maternal health indicators, and malnutrition rates. Furthermore, regional disparities in malnutrition prevalence are explored to highlight areas with unique characteristics or higher vulnerability. This research contributes to existing literature by providing insights into the complex interplay between infrastructure, maternal health, and childhood malnutrition at the district level in Gujarat. Findings from this study can inform targeted interventions and policy measures aimed at reducing childhood malnutrition and improving overall child health outcomes in the region.

Received: October 1, 2025
Accepted: November 19, 2025

References

[1] N. Aziz, J. He, T. Sarker and H. Sui, Exploring the role of health expenditure and maternal mortality in South Asian countries: an approach towards shaping better health policy, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(21) (2021), 11514. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111514.

[2] R. E. Black, C. G. Victora, S. P. Walker, Z. A. Bhutta, P. Christian, M. De Onis and R. Uauy, Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries, The Lancet 382(9890) (2013), 427-451.

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60937-X.

[3] T. Das, Exploring spatial variations and determinants of child malnutrition in Indian districts, GeoJournal 88(6) (2023), 6603-6625.

DOI: 10.1007/s10708-023-10784-3.

[4] B. Dhak, Socio-economic inequalities of child undernutrition in Gujarat: over-time change and inter-district disparities, Journal of Social and Economic Development 23(Suppl 1) (2021), 153-165. DOI: 10.1007/s40847-021-00162-w.

[5] Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Socio-Economic Review 2019-20, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Gandhinagar, 2020.

[6] S. Iyengar and R. H. Dholakia, What determines performance gap index of health care in Gujarat? Journal of Health Management 18(1) (2016), 95-116.

DOI: 10.1177/0972063415625524.

[7] V. H. Moran and K. Dewey, Maternal and child nutrition, Maternal and Child Nutrition 10(1) (2014), 1-5. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12113.

[8] M. A. B. Obolensky, A. E. Erman, J. Rozenberg, J. E. Maruyama Rentschler, P. Avner and S. Hallegatte, Infrastructure disruptions: how instability breeds household vulnerability, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No. 8902, World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019. DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-8902.

[9] A. B. Patil, Exploring the socio-economic dimensions of malnutrition in Gujarat: an integrated approach, Tec Empresarial 5(2) (2023), 1-12.

DOI: 10.26495/tecemp.v5i2.2574.

[10] A. Prüss-Ustün, J. Bartram, T. Clasen, J. M. Colford Jr., O. Cumming, V. Curtis and S. Cairncross, Burden of disease from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene in low- and middle-income settings: a retrospective analysis of data from 145 countries, Tropical Medicine and International Health 19(8) (2014), 894-905. DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12329.

[11] J. Soni, F. S. Sheikh, S. Saha, M. B. Wanjari and D. Saxena, Nutritional indicators for Gujarat: a comparative study of NFHS-4 and NFHS-5, Cureus 15(5) (2023), e39638. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39638.

[12] World Health Organization, Essential Nutrition Actions: Improving Maternal, Newborn, Infant and Young Child Health and Nutrition, WHO, Geneva, 2013.

Published

2025-12-26

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD INFRASTRUCTURE, MATERNAL HEALTH, AND CHILDHOOD MALNUTRITION: A DISTRICT-LEVEL ANALYSIS IN GUJARAT, INDIA. (2025). International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, 12(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.17654/2347527726001

Similar Articles

1-10 of 11

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.