Notably, as per the NFHS (2015-16), 34 per cent of children under 5 years of age are stunted (height for age), 29.4 per cent are underweight (weight for age), and 21.2 per cent are wasted (weight for height) in Haryana. Although the occurrence of stunted children has decreased by 11.7 per cent and underweight children by 10.2 per cent over the past 10 years in the state, the percent of wasted children has increased by 2.2 per cent over the same period. The proportion of severely wasted children has similarly increased from 5 percent to 9 percent in the state.

The NFHS (2015-16) also stated that 72.9 per cent children (6-59 months) have anaemia while 62.7 per cent women (age 15-49) are anaemic in the state. It further stated that 55 per cent pregnant women including 58.1 per cent in rural areas and 50.2 per cent in urban Haryana are anaemic.

MALNUTRITION STATUS

This analysis is based on data collected as part of a large household survey undertaken in the state of Haryana to measure the extent of Universal Health Coverage. A multistage stratified random sampling design was used to select primary sampling units (i.e., subcenters), villages, and households. A total of 11,594 mothers with a child between 12 and 23 months were interviewed on receipt of immunization services. Determinants of nonimmunization and partial immunization were assessed using multiple logistic regression.

Results:

About 21% of children aged 12–23 months were partially immunized, while 4.3% children aged 12–23 months had received “no immunization.” While the coverage of full immunization was 74.7% at the state level, it varied from 95% in best performing district to 38% in poorest performing district. Odds of a partially immunized child were significantly higher in urban area (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1–1.38), among Muslim household (OR = 3.52; 95% CI = 3.03–4.11), children of illiterate parents (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.22–2.05), and poorest quintile (OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.36–1.89).
Wide interdistrict variations call for a need to consider changes in resource allocation and strengthening of the government initiatives to improve routine immunization in these districts.