India has largest number of stunted children in the world, study finds
Charity group says a lack of toilets, clean water and high rates of defecation are some reasons behind the form of malnutrition
India is home to the world’s largest number of stunted children due to a lack of toilets, dirty water and poor hygiene, according to a new study published on Tuesday.
Despite high economic growth in recent years, India has more stunted children than Nigeria, Pakistan, China and the Republic of Congo combined, with 48 million under the age of five – about 30 per cent of the global total, a WaterAid report said.
Stunting is a form of malnutrition in which children are shorter than normal for their age and is largely irreversible after the age of two.
If they survive, they grow up physically and intellectually weaker than their better-fed peers.
WaterAid says a lack of toilets and clean water are causing high levels of stunting in India.