Status of Young Mother’s Nutrition and Its Association With Birth Weight in India

Anuja Banerjee , Family Planning Association of India
Junaid Khan, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Aparajita Chattopadhyay, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

This study investigated the changing pattern of association between demographic, socio-economic and behavioral factors with maternal health (Body Mass Index (BMI) and Anemia) among the Young Indian mothers (aged 15-19, 20-24) over the period of last two decades between 1998 and 2015 and the associated nexus between young mothers’ nutritional status and birth weight of their children. NFHS, 2015-16 & 1998-99 served the purpose of this study. Education and wealth showed decreased association with BMI over the period. Drinking pattern showed an increased level of association with BMI but not with anemia. Young Mothers aged 20-24 are obtaining greater gains in overcoming the Low Birth Weight of their infants as compared to mothers aged 15-19yrs. BMI and anemia level of mother’s determine their children’s birth weight largely and shows weak association over time. So BMI & anemia determine birth weight and educated mothers are less likely to have low BMI.

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 Presented in Session 5. Health & Mortality 1