CNNS Knowledge Network Project Outcomes

Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey Knowledge Network

About Us Objectives Project Outcomes Papers

The following task have been completed under this project:
I.  Research articles prepared and submitted for Publication
1.    Status and Correlates of Non-Communicable Diseases among Children and Adolescents in Slum and Non-Slum Areas of India’s Four Metropolitan Cities
The study highlighted that overweight and obesity was higher in urban areas than in rural areas among children and adolescents with little slum / non slum differences among young children aged 5-9 years. Region-wise differences in the prevalence of diseases were observed; children in Kolkata were at much higher a risk of diabetes, high total cholesterol and high triglycerides while the risk of hypertension was strikingly high among non-slum children in Delhi and Chennai. Overall, children from richer households had a greater likelihood of suffering from one or the other non-communicable disease irrespective of their residence in slum or non-slum areas.
2.    Status and Correlates of Micronutrients Deficiencies in Slum and Non-Slum Areas of India’s Four Metropolitan Cities: Investigation from CNNS
The study highlighted that both slum and non-slum children and adolescents are at a risk of micronutrient deficiency, although they may be deficient in different micronutrients. Deficiencies of iron, folate and vitamin A are common among slum children while vitamins B12, vitamin D and zinc deficiencies are more prevalent among non-slum children. Programmes like IFA supplementation and mid-day meals seem to have achieved some success in lowering iron and folate deficiencies but not consistently among all age-groups.
3.    Analysis of data quality of birth-weight reporting: Evidence from large scale surveys and HMIS statistics
The study aims to analyse the quality of birth weight data collected in the large-scale surveys (NFHS & CNNS) and reported in the HMIS and its implications on low birth weight (LBW) estimations. Percentage of live-births whose weight was missing is reported in 30% or less cases in recent surveys (NFHS-4: 22%, CNNS: 30%), indicating an improvement over the last decade from 66% in NFHS-3 and around 40% in HMIS. This percentage of missing data of birth weight is higher among live-births belonging to poor households, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, irrespective of the surveys, Reporting of birth weight from the health cards has increased from NFHS 3 to NFHS 4/CNNS but still varies by socio-economic variables. In all the three surveys, heaping of birth weight at digit ending with 0 or 5 is observed. Irrespective of reporting from the cards or recall by the mother, birth weight reporting is highest at 2,500g and 3,000g. Level of missing birth weight and heaping is found higher among the children born at home in comparison to facility-based births in the three surveys. The paper demonstrates state-level variations in birth weight reporting and inconsistencies in this reporting across surveys and HMIS. There is a vast difference in the estimate of low birth weight from surveys and service statistics (HMIS). In 2015-16, the prevalence of LBW as per HMIS data is 12.5% whereas during the same time, NFHS 4 and CNNS surveys reported the LBW prevalence as 18%. This paper identified the possible biases in missing and reported data (heaping) in surveys and under-coverage and other issues in HMIS. The findings suggest that LBW is likely to be underestimated when missing data as well as heaping at 2,500g is highly prevalent.  There is a need for a comprehensive method of data collection of birth weight to get an accurate prevalence of low birth weight.

4.    An assessment of Skinfold Thickness as a Measure of Body-Fat among School-Aged Children and Adolescents in India
The paper attempts to fill this gap by checking the diagnostic accuracy of TSFT and SSFT as compared with gold standard (weight for age (WFA) for children, body mass index for age (BFA) for adolescents) methods. Additionally, the study seeks to estimate the risk and associated factors of overweight and obesity among children 5-19 years of age as measured by, TSFT and SSFT and gold standard.
5.    Anthropometric Assessment of Children and Adolescents in Slum and Non-Slum Areas of India’s Four Metropolitan Cities
The study aims to present the anthropometric measurements and indices, both conventional and CIAF among children younger than 5 years, school-age children (5-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) living in four metropolitan of India – Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, disaggregated by slums and non-slums through conventional anthropometric indices and CIAF. We hypothesize that the physical growth indicators and consequently the anthropometric indices, are less favourable among children who are slum-dwellers as compared to those residing in non-slum urban areas.
6.    Depressive symptoms and it association with nutrition status of Indian adolescents

II.    Organised a virtual workshop for CNNS Data Users on 28th May 2020 along with Population Council and UNICEF which was attended by more than 100 participants.

III.    Developed programme (TEM data entry and standardisation of anthropometric measurement software) to examine the quality of anthropometric data measurement during training

IV.    Developed a research proposal on Birth-weight measurement and Low Birth-weight Estimation

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