National Family Health Survey 4 data for 2015-16 shows that while mothers’ education was not a factor affecting immunisation of children, it did affect growth. The data showed that of the mothers who participated in the survey, more than 50% provided immunization to their children, across all categories based on caste and education.
However, nutritional status varied among the categories. Stunted growth was seen in children of around 51% of the uneducated women compared with 31% of educated women’s children. About 47% of the uneducated women had underweight children.
The percentage of children who were underweight and had stunted growth was greater among Scheduled Tribes compared with other caste categories. Children of around 44% of the women from Scheduled Tribes showed stunted growth and about 45% were underweight.
Stunted growth is a condition that reflects malnutrition in children whose height and weight are lower than the median height and weight of the reference population in a particular age group.
