COVID-19 Pandemic Worsens Diets of Women and Children in India

Strategic Insights -

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the diets of women and children in India, with a significant decline in child feeding practices and women's food consumption and dietary diversity. A recent study used data from India's National Family Health Survey 2015-16 and 2019-21 to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 and women's and children's diets in India, with a focus on socioeconomic status and mothers' vegetarianism.

The study, conducted by researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute, found that COVID-19 exposure was linked to significant declines in child feeding practices and women's diet. The diets of women and children were greatly impacted by mobility reduction, with a magnitude of impact varying across socioeconomic sub-strata and mothers' vegetarianism status.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in child feeding practices, with a 6.9 percentage point decrease in minimum dietary diversity, a 5.0 percentage point decrease in minimum acceptable diet, and a 6.1 percentage point decrease in fruit consumption.
  • Women's diet was also greatly impacted, with a 5.7 percentage point decrease in dietary diversity and green vegetable consumption.
  • The magnitude of impact varied across socioeconomic sub-strata and mothers' vegetarianism status, but the differences were not statistically significant.
  • The diets of women and children were greatly impacted by mobility reduction.
  • More research is needed on the impact of relief measures to strengthen food safety nets nationwide.
  • The study used data from India's National Family Health Survey 2015-16 and 2019-21, with a sample size of 567,727 women and 141,905 children.
  • The study found that COVID-19 exposure was linked to significant declines in child feeding practices and women's diet, using a difference-in-difference model and a linear regression model.

Statistics:

  • A 6.9 percentage point decrease in minimum dietary diversity among children.
  • A 5.0 percentage point decrease in minimum acceptable diet among children.
  • A 6.1 percentage point decrease in fruit consumption among children.
  • A 5.7 percentage point decrease in dietary diversity among women.
  • A 5.7 percentage point decrease in green vegetable consumption among women.
  • The study used data from 11 states surveyed before and during COVID-19, with a sample size of 567,727 women and 141,905 children.
  • The study found that the impact of COVID-19 on diets was significant, with a magnitude of impact varying across socioeconomic sub-strata and mothers' vegetarianism status.

Sources:

  • "Women's Dietary Diversity and Child Feeding Practices Amidst COVID19 in India: Findings From National Family Health Surveys, 2016-2021" (Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2025)
  • International Food Policy Research Institute (Washington, DC, United States)
  • Maternal & Child Nutrition (Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA)