Nutrition among children of migrant construction workers in Ahmedabad, India

Alarmingly high rates of undernutrition—affecting over 50% of children under five—were found among migrant construction workers' offspring in Ahmedabad, India. The study, conducted across five urban worksites between 2017 and 2018, revealed that stunting (40.5%), wasting (22.1%), and underweight prevalence (50.4%) were driven by intersecting factors: parental misconceptions about malnutrition, prolonged work hours disrupting childcare, inadequate breastfeeding practices due to worksite constraints, and limited dietary diversity. Qualitative methods, including interviews and participant observation, uncovered how socio-cultural norms, poor sanitation, economic hardship, and lack of healthcare access compounded nutritional deficits. This research exposes the often-overlooked vulnerability of migrant children in India's informal economy, urging targeted policies to address their unique nutritional needs.

Ravindranath, D., Trani, J.-F., & Iannotti, L. (2019). Nutrition among children of migrant construction workers in Ahmedabad, India. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1034-y