Indian babies are now being born heavier than before signaling better healthcare. Over the past five years only 18% of babies born were underweight (less than 2.5 Kgs.) A decade ago 22% of babies weighed less than 2.5 Kgs.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report said, “Children who weigh less than 2.5 kilograms at birth are considered to have a higher than average risk of early childhood death.”
The weight of babies are shown to rise depending on the education of the mother and household wealth. In the past five years 2010 to 2015 the NFHS survey recorded a total of 249,949 live births. Out of the total, 78% had a written record of the child’s weight. It is shown women with 12 or more years of education have given birth to healthier and heavier babies.
The survey also shows educated mothers’ children have a better chance of survival. It also shows 67.5% children from uneducated women lost their lives before the age of five.
Around 15% of babies born in wealthy families were born underweight. While more than 20% of children born in poor families were underweight.
