Abstract

PIP: This article discusses the living environment and nutritional status of the girl child in India: dwelling, water source, toilet facilities, diet, literacy status, physical growth pattern, infant mortality, and micronutrient deficiencies. During 1974 and 1980, the normal nutritional pattern of pre-school age children improved. Stunting fluctuated and gradually declined from 57.9% to 44.8%. Wasting declined from 3.5% to 2.4%. Stunting and wasting declined from 3.3% to 2.0%. 8% of children 0-3 years old had vitamin A deficiencies, and 20% of children 3-6 years old had vitamin A deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiencies were highest at 41% among children 10-15 years old. Iron deficiencies ranged from 12% to 48%. The highest deficits were in younger age groups. Girl children begin household chores at the age of 5 years. By the age of 15 years, girls may work 10 hours a day at housework. Girls who obtain water at a distance from the home experience drains in energy from an undernourished body. Women who fetch water are not able to look after their children properly. Unsafe water, unsanitary toilet facilities, and poor sanitation contribute to morbidity and ill health. The proportion of boys reaching secondary levels of schooling was 2-4 times higher than girls. Girls tend to be about 2 cm shorter at birth. Gender gaps in height were wider at 3 years of age. Weight deficits of girls increased from about 5 kgs at 6 years of age to 20 kgs at 15 years of age. Height deficits of almost 8 cm at 6 years of age doubled by 15 years of age. Poorly nourished mothers tend to give birth to low birth weight (LBW) babies (under 145 cm and below 40 kg). LBW babies tend to show poor growth in weight and height over time. The cycle of poor nutrition, poor health, and unsanitary living conditions repeats itself.