The Roots of Malnutrition and Its Possible Alleviation within the Family
The problem of undernutrition is a threat to the development of a child. The role of family is critical in chalking the developmental trajectory of an undernourished child. This study explores whether the interpersonal relations among parents and home environment predicts the undernutrition in children. Findings reveal that interpersonal relationships, socioeconomic status, and partner violence significantly predicted child’s nutrition (R2=.403). The undernourished children were less closely attached to their mothers and their mothers were significantly less satisfied in their marriages when compared to the healthy children. The study has implications for designing and implementation of nutrition-sensitive intervention programs for malnutrition.