Social Determinants of Child Undernutrition in Adivasi Population in Northern Kerala: A Study Using Syndemic Framework

Objectives To understand the complex interaction of structural inequalities, co-occurring health conditions, and child undernutrition among the Adivasi population in North Kerala, India. Methods A mixed-method approach was employed in this study, which combined a cross-sectional survey and a case study design. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 167 children aged 24 to 60 mo from the study population. The mothers of these children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess individual, parental, and household-level factors associated with child undernutrition. Two Paniya settlements, one with a high prevalence of child undernutrition (HPS) and the other with a low prevalence (LPS), were chosen as the primary units of the case study. Results The study found that the absence of a kitchen garden with fruits and vegetables [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–7.81] and a history of cough and fever (AOR 2.93; 95% CI: 1.24–6.93) were both associated with a higher risk of undernutrition in children. The case studies revealed that Adivasi children are undernourished due to a complex set of factors that persist throughout their lives, including unequal access to social capital, healthcare, and food security, as well as differences in hygiene practices due to the lack of access to clean water and sanitation. Conclusions The findings underscore the need for social interventions to complement the current focus almost entirely on food supplementation programmes. Equitable action on Adivasi child malnutrition requires urgent policy and programmatic attention to social inequalities and access to basic amenities in Adivasi areas.