Health Empirics

Internal migration is livelihood strategies for poor household. It can have significant impact on children health and well-being because children are especially vulnerable to change living conditions, access to food, and health services. In India, child undernutrition remains major public health concern. Therefore, the study examines impact of parental migration on children nutritional status. The study uses national representative data from National Family Health Survey-4, children nutritional status was measured using anthropometric indicators stunting, wasting and underweight. descriptive study has been use to understand the socio-economic differential. Further, we have applied a Propensity Score matching to estimate the effect of migration on children’s nutritional outcomes.Result indicates urban migrant’s children nutritional status is better than non-migrant’s resident. Additionally, parental education significantly improves child nutrition. To assess the causal impact of migration on children nutritional status, the study employs regression analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) after balancing all covariates. Overall, the findings reveal a negative association between the migration and stunting/wasting/underweight outcomes. However, migration stream appears to be positive for children health, as the average treatment effect on treated stunting (-0.05.2 % unmatched, ATT -0.02.2 % t=-2.39) and underweight (-0.05.2 unmatched, ATT-0.017% and t=-1.88). The finding suggests the socio-economic condition such a household wealth status, parental education, and regional disparities play a major role for children nutrition.

Keywords: Parental migration, Undernutrition, Urban residence, poor household