Population estimates and determinants of severe maternal thinness in India

Abstract

Objective: To examine prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of maternal severe thinness in India. Methods: This mixed methods study analyzed data from the Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 (2015–2016) to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for severe thinness, followed by a desk review of literature from India. Results: Prevalence of severe thinness (defined by World Health Organization as body mass index [BMI] <16 in adult and BMI for age Z score