Understanding resilience to anthropometric malnutrition: Why some children in poverty remain free from all forms of malnutrition – An analysis of India’s National Family Health Survey-5
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While most research focuses on the causes of child malnutrition, less is known about children who stay healthy despite poverty. This study explores nutritional resilience, defined as the absence of all anthropometric malnutrition, among India’s poorest households. Using NFHS-5 (2019–2021) data, we examined children aged 0–59 months in the lowest wealth quintile. A Composite Index of Anthropometric Malnutrition measured nine malnutrition states, and binary logistic regression identified key predictors. About 35% of children in extreme poverty were malnutrition-free. Maternal height above 155 cm (OR: 2.74, 95% CI), maternal education, smaller families, adequate birth weight (≥ 2500 g), and improved sanitation promoted resilience. Findings highlight that child nutrition depends on maternal health, education, and environmental quality, beyond poverty reduction alone.
