Inter-Relationship between Undernutrition in Children and Population of Tribal Children in Districts of Rajasthan

Abstract

Remote parts of southern Rajasthan (such as Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand and Udaipur) and southern eastern Rajasthan (such as Banswara, Bundi etc.) have tribal groups predominate and a high prevalence of unskilled labour and seasonal migration. Rajasthan is among the States with the highest prevalence of malnutrition in children under five years of age. About 32% of the children in Rajasthan are stunted, 17% are Wasted, 8% are Severely Wasted, and 28% are underweight. This research paper explores the possible interplay between Undernutrition in Children and Tribal Children of 0-5 Years (% to total state) in Districts of Rajasthan to see whether Districts have more Tribal Children have more Under-nutritional status. Correlation and Regression analysis was used to study the relationship between Undernutrition among children under five years of age and Tribal Children of age group 0-5 Years in 33 Districts of Rajasthan using data from the National Family Health Survey-4 for the year 2015-16 and Census 2011. We find that the Population of Tribal Children of age group 0-5 years (%) has a high Negative correlation coefficient with the Underweight and has Medium Negative correlation coefficient with the Stunted, Wasted and Severely Wasted Children. There is a need to make extra efforts to provide nutrition to Tribal Children in the age group 0-5 years to improve Undernutrition among them.