MOTHER'S EDUCATION AND CHILD HEALTH IN INDIA: MULTINOMIAL LOGIT ESTIMATION OF MALNUTRITION

Abstract

Globally childhood malnutrition manifesting as stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight is the biggest cause of disease burden and millions of deaths of children under five years. India is home to more than one-third of the world's malnourished children despite being one of the first countries in the world to implement a strong and universal immunisation programme. Empirical evidence suggests a strong positive effect of maternal education on the health of children. This paper analyses the effect of maternal education on the nutritional status of children in India using the 2015-16 fourth round National Family Health Survey (NFHS-IV) data and applying the multinomial logistic regression method. The estimated odds ratios show that maternal education significantly reduces the risks of the child being stunted or wasted or underweight or all of these. A woman, with at least primary education gives better care and health to her child and helps reduce the risk of the child being malnourished. Months of breastfeeding, child's birth weight, mother's age, and place of delivery are the other determinants of the nutritional status of children in India.