Determinants of childhood stunting in India: Comparative evidence from Bihar

A comparative assessment of socioeconomic determinants of stunting between India and Bihar is displayed in this study. The data from the National Family Health Survey-4 is used in this study to examine the comparative scenario of stunting between Bihar and India. Primary evidence of childhood stunting from Bhagalpur District has used to represent the eastern Bihar in our study. The bivariate and binary logistic regression models are used to accomplish the study objectives. A comparison in child growth between WHO standard and the sample from Bhagalpur District of Bihar has been also done. There is an over 10% difference in stunting prevalence between India and Bihar. We find that older children, children of higher birth order, children practicing unsafe disposal of stool, children born to lower educated mothers, and belong to poor households have significantly higher odds of stunting in Bihar as well as India. Child height for age only aligned with WHO standards in early childhood (0-12 months) for Bhagalpur District, but the likelihood of child stunting rises as age increases. Thus, we recommend effective program interventions keeping the socioeconomic and demographic vulnerabilities of children into consideration, reducing children stunting to attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 in Bihar as well as India.