Table 2 Distribution of outcomes among social strata of religion- caste and religion-tribe, in Hindu-Muslim children and their differentials across NFHS waves nationally
| Â | NFHS 1 | |||||||
|  | Hindu ( n  = 37,231) | Muslim ( n  = 6594) | ||||||
Variable | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe |
n | 27,467 | NA | 5903 | 3861 | 6351 | NA | 201 | 42 |
A) NFHS 1a | ||||||||
 HAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.9 (1.71) | NA | -2.17 (1.72) | -1.94 (1.93) | -2.09 (1.69) | NA | -1.97 (1.82) | -2.5 (1.18) |
 Missing | 12,300 (44.8%) | NA | 2784 (47.2%) | 2263 (58.6%) | 2874 (45.3%) | NA | 98 (48.8%) | 25 (59.5%) |
 WAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.89 (1.29) | NA | -2.1 (1.31) | -2.17 (1.49) | -2.03 (1.26) | NA | -1.97 (1.18) | -1.9 (1.04) |
 Missing | 7085 (25.8%) | NA | 1680 (28.5%) | 1113 (28.8%) | 1770 (27.9%) | NA | 77 (38.3%) | 8 (19.0%) |
 WHZ (mean (SD)) | -0.9 (1.16) | NA | -0.97 (1.19) | -1.05 (1.34) | -0.91 (1.14) | NA | -0.96 (1.17) | -0.79 (0.82) |
 Missing | 12,248 (44.6%) | NA | 2765 (46.8%) | 2250 (58.3%) | 2844 (44.8%) | NA | 98 (48.8%) | 25 (59.5%) |
Stunting (%) | Â | NA | Â | Â | Â | NA | Â | Â |
 Yes | 7265 (26.4%) | NA | 1768 (30.0%) | 830 (21.5%) | 1827 (28.8%) | NA | 53 (26.4%) | 11 (26.2%) |
 No | 7902 (28.8%) | NA | 1351 (22.9%) | 768 (19.9%) | 1650 (26.0%) | NA | 50 (24.9%) | 6 (14.3%) |
 Missing | 12,300 (44.8%) | NA | 2784 (47.2%) | 2263 (58.6%) | 2874 (45.3%) | NA | 98 (48.8%) | 25 (59.5%) |
Underweight (%) | Â | NA | Â | Â | Â | NA | Â | Â |
 Yes | 10,104 (36.8%) | NA | 2411 (40.8%) | 1629 (42.2%) | 2477 (39.0%) | NA | 56 (27.9%) | 17 (40.5%) |
 No | 10,278 (37.4%) | NA | 1812 (30.7%) | 1119 (29.0%) | 2104 (33.1%) | NA | 68 (33.8%) | 17 (40.5%) |
 Missing | 7085 (25.8%) | NA | 1680 (28.5%) | 1113 (28.8%) | 1770 (27.9%) | NA | 77 (38.3%) | 8 (19.0%) |
Wasting (%) | Â | NA | Â | Â | Â | NA | Â | Â |
 Yes | 2406 (8.8%) | NA | 550 (9.3%) | 359 (9.3%) | 546 (8.6%) | NA | 16 (8.0%) | 2 (4.8%) |
 No | 12,813 (46.6%) | NA | 2588 (43.8%) | 1252 (32.4%) | 2961 (46.6%) | NA | 87 (43.3%) | 15 (35.7%) |
 Missing | 12,248 (44.6%) | NA | 2765 (46.8%) | 2250 (58.3%) | 2844 (44.8%) | NA | 98 (48.8%) | 25 (59.5%) |
| Â | NFHS 2 | |||||||
|  | Hindu ( n  = 24,551) | Muslim ( n  = 4824) | ||||||
Variable | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe |
N | 8304 | 7987 | 5562 | 2698 | 3614 | 1041 | 119 | 50 |
B) NFHS 2 | ||||||||
 HAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.55 (1.57) | -1.79 (1.68) | -2.02 (1.67) | -2.02 (1.78) | -1.75 (1.73) | -1.88 (1.75) | -2.3 (1.44) | -1.83 (1.88) |
 Missing | 1969 (23.7%) | 1841 (23.0%) | 1377 (24.8%) | 721 (26.7%) | 1067 (29.5%) | 270 (25.9%) | 43 (36.1%) | 12 (24.0%) |
WAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.53 (1.29) | -1.85 (1.32) | -1.95 (1.33) | -2.1 (1.4) | -1.69 (1.34) | -1.83 (1.35) | -2.08 (1.27) | -1.39 (2) |
 Missing | 1969 (23.7%) | 1841 (23.0%) | 1377 (24.8%) | 721 (26.7%) | 1067 (29.5%) | 270 (25.9%) | 43 (36.1%) | 12 (24.0%) |
WHZ (mean (SD)) | -0.7 (1.21) | -0.92 (1.2) | -0.87 (1.26) | -1.05 (1.3) | -0.74 (1.26) | -0.81 (1.29) | -0.73 (1.35) | -0.3 (1.77) |
 Missing | 1950 (23.5%) | 1828 (22.9%) | 1347 (24.2%) | 692 (25.6%) | 1040 (28.8%) | 266 (25.6%) | 40 (33.6%) | 12 (24.0%) |
Stunting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 2402 (28.9%) | 2736 (34.3%) | 2144 (38.5%) | 1043 (38.7%) | 1116 (30.9%) | 366 (35.2%) | 40 (33.6%) | 19 (38.0%) |
 No | 3933 (47.4%) | 3410 (42.7%) | 2041 (36.7%) | 934 (34.6%) | 1431 (39.6%) | 405 (38.9%) | 36 (30.3%) | 19 (38.0%) |
 Missing | 1969 (23.7%) | 1841 (23.0%) | 1377 (24.8%) | 721 (26.7%) | 1067 (29.5%) | 270 (25.9%) | 43 (36.1%) | 12 (24.0%) |
Underweight (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 2335 (28.1%) | 2946 (36.9%) | 2185 (39.3%) | 1116 (41.4%) | 1101 (30.5%) | 370 (35.5%) | 40 (33.6%) | 16 (32.0%) |
 No | 4000 (48.2%) | 3200 (40.1%) | 2000 (36.0%) | 861 (31.9%) | 1446 (40.0%) | 401 (38.5%) | 36 (30.3%) | 22 (44.0%) |
 Missing | 1969 (23.7%) | 1841 (23.0%) | 1377 (24.8%) | 721 (26.7%) | 1067 (29.5%) | 270 (25.9%) | 43 (36.1%) | 12 (24.0%) |
Wasting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 770 (9.3%) | 1050 (13.1%) | 692 (12.4%) | 445 (16.5%) | 348 (9.6%) | 120 (11.5%) | 10 (8.4%) | 7 (14.0%) |
 No | 5584 (67.2%) | 5109 (64.0%) | 3523 (63.3%) | 1561 (57.9%) | 2226 (61.6%) | 655 (62.9%) | 69 (58.0%) | 31 (62.0%) |
 Missing | 1950 (23.5%) | 1828 (22.9%) | 1347 (24.2%) | 692 (25.6%) | 1040 (28.8%) | 266 (25.6%) | 40 (33.6%) | 12 (24.0%) |
| Â | NFHS 3 | |||||||
|  | Hindu ( n  = 35,499) | Muslim ( n  = 8595) | ||||||
Variable | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe |
n | 10,453 | 13,288 | 8226 | 3532 | 5183 | 2994 | 253 | 165 |
C) NFHS 3 | ||||||||
 HAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.36 (1.56) | -1.79 (1.64) | -1.97 (1.64) | -2.01 (1.7) | -1.71 (1.66) | -1.97 (1.74) | -1.91 (1.72) | -1.4 (2) |
 Missing | 1955 (18.7%) | 2481 (18.7%) | 1682 (20.4%) | 740 (21.0%) | 1111 (21.4%) | 675 (22.5%) | 68 (26.9%) | 27 (16.4%) |
WAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.32 (1.22) | -1.73 (1.2) | -1.84 (1.21) | -2.07 (1.25) | -1.57 (1.23) | -1.79 (1.23) | -1.8 (1.24) | -1.47 (1.39) |
 Missing | 1955 (18.7%) | 2481 (18.7%) | 1682 (20.4%) | 740 (21.0%) | 1111 (21.4%) | 675 (22.5%) | 68 (26.9%) | 27 (16.4%) |
WHZ (mean (SD)) | -0.78 (1.3) | -1.02 (1.28) | -1.02 (1.29) | -1.3 (1.3) | -0.84 (1.31) | -0.93 (1.3) | -0.97 (1.46) | -0.94 (1.43) |
 Missing | 1955 (18.7%) | 2481 (18.7%) | 1682 (20.4%) | 740 (21.0%) | 1111 (21.4%) | 675 (22.5%) | 68 (26.9%) | 27 (16.4%) |
Stunting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 2910 (27.8%) | 4959 (37.3%) | 3361 (40.9%) | 1442 (40.8%) | 1793 (34.6%) | 1154 (38.5%) | 99 (39.1%) | 55 (33.3%) |
 No | 5588 (53.5%) | 5848 (44.0%) | 3183 (38.7%) | 1350 (38.2%) | 2279 (44.0%) | 1165 (38.9%) | 86 (34.0%) | 83 (50.3%) |
 Missing | 1955 (18.7%) | 2481 (18.7%) | 1682 (20.4%) | 740 (21.0%) | 1111 (21.4%) | 675 (22.5%) | 68 (26.9%) | 27 (16.4%) |
Underweight (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 2383 (22.8%) | 4428 (33.3%) | 2977 (36.2%) | 1492 (42.2%) | 1439 (27.8%) | 988 (33.0%) | 87 (34.4%) | 50 (30.3%) |
 No | 6115 (58.5%) | 6379 (48.0%) | 3567 (43.4%) | 1300 (36.8%) | 2633 (50.8%) | 1331 (44.5%) | 98 (38.7%) | 88 (53.3%) |
 Missing | 1955 (18.7%) | 2481 (18.7%) | 1682 (20.4%) | 740 (21.0%) | 1111 (21.4%) | 675 (22.5%) | 68 (26.9%) | 27 (16.4%) |
Wasting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 1291 (12.4%) | 2132 (16.0%) | 1330 (16.2%) | 757 (21.4%) | 685 (13.2%) | 439 (14.7%) | 41 (16.2%) | 31 (18.8%) |
 No | 7207 (68.9%) | 8675 (65.3%) | 5214 (63.4%) | 2035 (57.6%) | 3387 (65.3%) | 1880 (62.8%) | 144 (56.9%) | 107 (64.8%) |
 Missing | 1955 (18.7%) | 2481 (18.7%) | 1682 (20.4%) | 740 (21.0%) | 1111 (21.4%) | 675 (22.5%) | 68 (26.9%) | 27 (16.4%) |
| Â | NFHS 4 | |||||||
|  | Hindu ( n  = 187,573) | Muslim ( n  = 40,950) | ||||||
Variable | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe |
n | 34,082 | 81,525 | 44,258 | 27,708 | 19,260 | 18,316 | 1338 | 2036 |
D) NFHS 4 | ||||||||
 HAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.14 (1.63) | -1.52 (1.65) | -1.69 (1.65) | -1.7 (1.72) | -1.41 (1.73) | -1.64 (1.66) | -1.69 (1.66) | -1.35 (1.74) |
 Missing | 4276 (12.5%) | 10,326 (12.7%) | 5830 (13.2%) | 4052 (14.6%) | 2759 (14.3%) | 2412 (13.2%) | 259 (19.4%) | 279 (13.7%) |
WAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.24 (1.2) | -1.6 (1.18) | -1.72 (1.18) | -1.86 (1.2) | -1.38 (1.23) | -1.63 (1.18) | -1.62 (1.19) | -1.28 (1.26) |
 Missing | 4276 (12.5%) | 10,326 (12.7%) | 5830 (13.2%) | 4052 (14.6%) | 2759 (14.3%) | 2412 (13.2%) | 259 (19.4%) | 279 (13.7%) |
WHZ (mean (SD)) | -0.84 (1.4) | -1.04 (1.35) | -1.07 (1.35) | -1.26 (1.42) | -0.81 (1.38) | -1 (1.33) | -0.93 (1.35) | -0.72 (1.46) |
 Missing | 4276 (12.5%) | 10,326 (12.7%) | 5830 (13.2%) | 4052 (14.6%) | 2759 (14.3%) | 2412 (13.2%) | 259 (19.4%) | 279 (13.7%) |
Stunting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 8619 (25.3%) | 28,045 (34.4%) | 16,976 (38.4%) | 10,506 (37.9%) | 6156 (32.0%) | 6790 (37.1%) | 501 (37.4%) | 624 (30.6%) |
 No | 21,187 (62.2%) | 43,154 (52.9%) | 21,452 (48.5%) | 13,150 (47.5%) | 10,345 (53.7%) | 9114 (49.8%) | 578 (43.2%) | 1133 (55.6%) |
 Missing | 4276 (12.5%) | 10,326 (12.7%) | 5830 (13.2%) | 4052 (14.6%) | 2759 (14.3%) | 2412 (13.2%) | 259 (19.4%) | 279 (13.7%) |
Underweight (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 7754 (22.8%) | 26,153 (32.1%) | 15,606 (35.3%) | 10,945 (39.5%) | 4997 (25.9%) | 5988 (32.7%) | 416 (31.1%) | 483 (23.7%) |
 No | 22,052 (64.7%) | 45,046 (55.3%) | 22,822 (51.6%) | 12,711 (45.9%) | 11,504 (59.7%) | 9916 (54.1%) | 663 (49.6%) | 1274 (62.6%) |
 Missing | 4276 (12.5%) | 10,326 (12.7%) | 5830 (13.2%) | 4052 (14.6%) | 2759 (14.3%) | 2412 (13.2%) | 259 (19.4%) | 279 (13.7%) |
Wasting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 5423 (15.9%) | 15,194 (18.6%) | 8464 (19.1%) | 6744 (24.3%) | 2820 (14.6%) | 3176 (17.3%) | 213 (15.9%) | 297 (14.6%) |
 No | 24,383 (71.5%) | 56,005 (68.7%) | 29,964 (67.7%) | 16,912 (61.0%) | 13,681 (71.0%) | 12,728 (69.5%) | 866 (64.7%) | 1460 (71.7%) |
 Missing | 4276 (12.5%) | 10,326 (12.7%) | 5830 (13.2%) | 4052 (14.6%) | 2759 (14.3%) | 2412 (13.2%) | 259 (19.4%) | 279 (13.7%) |
| Â | NFHS 5 | |||||||
|  | Hindu ( n  = 171,055) | Muslim ( n  = 33,522) | ||||||
Variable | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe | Other | Other Backward Class | Scheduled Caste | Scheduled Tribe |
n | 29,167 | 73,351 | 42,938 | 25,599 | 16,651 | 14,293 | 1256 | 1322 |
E) NFHS 5 | ||||||||
 HAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.04 (1.76) | -1.32 (1.78) | -1.48 (1.8) | -1.49 (1.87) | -1.2 (1.98) | -1.33 (1.9) | -1.38 (1.96) | -0.96 (2.15) |
 Missing | 3270 (11.2%) | 8551 (11.7%) | 5211 (12.1%) | 3014 (11.8%) | 1947 (11.7%) | 2054 (14.4%) | 166 (13.2%) | 145 (11.0%) |
WAZ (mean (SD)) | -1.12 (1.35) | -1.45 (1.28) | -1.55 (1.3) | -1.68 (1.35) | -1.35 (1.44) | -1.48 (1.36) | -1.49 (1.37) | -1.09 (1.6) |
 Missing | 2725 (9.3%) | 7229 (9.9%) | 4361 (10.2%) | 2484 (9.7%) | 1538 (9.2%) | 1761 (12.3%) | 140 (11.1%) | 108 (8.2%) |
WHZ (mean (SD)) | -0.64 (1.52) | -0.86 (1.48) | -0.87 (1.5) | -0.99 (1.54) | -0.8 (1.66) | -0.85 (1.51) | -0.84 (1.61) | -0.52 (1.91) |
 Missing | 3741 (12.8%) | 9835 (13.4%) | 5893 (13.7%) | 3644 (14.2%) | 2376 (14.3%) | 2399 (16.8%) | 199 (15.8%) | 190 (14.4%) |
Stunting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 7122 (24.4%) | 22,958 (31.3%) | 15,004 (34.9%) | 9206 (36.0%) | 5164 (31.0%) | 4516 (31.6%) | 443 (35.3%) | 390 (29.5%) |
 No | 18,775 (64.4%) | 41,842 (57.0%) | 22,723 (52.9%) | 13,379 (52.3%) | 9540 (57.3%) | 7723 (54.0%) | 647 (51.5%) | 787 (59.5%) |
 Missing | 3270 (11.2%) | 8551 (11.7%) | 5211 (12.1%) | 3014 (11.8%) | 1947 (11.7%) | 2054 (14.4%) | 166 (13.2%) | 145 (11.0%) |
Underweight (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 6233 (21.4%) | 21,052 (28.7%) | 13,535 (31.5%) | 9163 (35.8%) | 4736 (28.4%) | 4186 (29.3%) | 398 (31.7%) | 345 (26.1%) |
 No | 20,209 (69.3%) | 45,070 (61.4%) | 25,042 (58.3%) | 13,952 (54.5%) | 10,377 (62.3%) | 8346 (58.4%) | 718 (57.2%) | 869 (65.7%) |
 Missing | 2725 (9.3%) | 7229 (9.9%) | 4361 (10.2%) | 2484 (9.7%) | 1538 (9.2%) | 1761 (12.3%) | 140 (11.1%) | 108 (8.2%) |
Wasting (%) | ||||||||
 Yes | 4009 (13.7%) | 12,167 (16.6%) | 7238 (16.9%) | 5041 (19.7%) | 2970 (17.8%) | 2410 (16.9%) | 214 (17.0%) | 233 (17.6%) |
 No | 21,417 (73.4%) | 51,349 (70.0%) | 29,807 (69.4%) | 16,914 (66.1%) | 11,305 (67.9%) | 9484 (66.4%) | 843 (67.1%) | 899 (68.0%) |
 Missing | 3741 (12.8%) | 9835 (13.4%) | 5893 (13.7%) | 3644 (14.2%) | 2376 (14.3%) | 2399 (16.8%) | 199 (15.8%) | 190 (14.4%) |