Latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) paints a grim picture of child nutrition in India . Just 15.3% of kids aged 6 to 23 months are getting enough to eat, up from 11% in the last survey,NFHS-5. Even with better food availability and government nutrition programs,many toddlers are still missing key nutrients vital for growth and brain development.
Experts say problem stems from a lack of variety in diets. Kids might be getting enough calories, but they often lack essential proteins, micronutrients, and other nutritious foods needed for healthy growth. The survey also showed exclusive breastfeeding rates for infants under six months dropped from 63.7% in NFHS-5 to 55.8% in NFHS-6. This decline is concerning,as global health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for balanced nutrition and to protect infants from infections.
“Breastfeeding is not merely an individual choice; it is a public health, nutrition, child rights, and national development issue,”said Dr. Arun Gupta, founder of the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI). He called for national action to boost breastfeeding practices, crucial for both mothers and children.
On a brighter note,NFHS-6 data reveals some positive trends. The share of children aged 6 to 8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food along with breast milk jumped from 45.9% to 59.5%. This shows a growing awareness of importance of complementary feeding during this key growth stage.
When comparing the two surveys, stunting among kids under five fell from 35.5% to 32.3%. Wasting rates dropped from 19.3% to 16.3%,and severe wasting went from 7.7% to 5.7%. The number of underweight children also decreased from 32.1% to 29.2%. Still,Dr. Gupta warned that while these improvements are encouraging, they remain limited and highlight India's persistent struggle with malnutrition.
The 6 to 24-month age range is crucial for a child's development. As children grow,breast milk alone isn't enough, so safe and nutritious complementary foods must be introduced. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests varied diet that includes grains,legumes,dairy, eggs, meat or fish, and fruits and vegetables. Alarmingly, over 77% of children in India fail to meet WHO's dietary diversity guidelines.
Experts caution that poor breastfeeding practices may be linked to more caesarean deliveries,which can disrupt immediate skin-to-skin contact and early breastfeeding . BPNI raised concerns about inadequate breastfeeding support in health facilities and aggressive marketing of infant milk substitutes that undermine proper feeding practices . The rise of digital marketing for formula and baby foods complicates matters, normalizing formula feeding and shaking confidence in breastfeeding.
As India faces these challenges,findings from NFHS-6 stress the need for solid strategies to boost child nutrition and support breastfeeding across the country.
