What keeps children small, thin, and weak?: exploring the early childhood impacts of socioeconomic disadvantages in Pakistan

Child malnutrition is a critical public health concern in Pakistan, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged households. This study employs Amartya Sen's entitlement theory and UNICEF's malnutrition framework 2020 to examine the determinants of child malnutrition, using nationally representative data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Wave 6. Logistic regression analysis on a sample of children aged 6-23 months reveals that parental education remains an important factor. Children of educated parents experience significantly lower malnutrition rates. Minimum dietary diversity (MDD) has been found important as fulfilling the needs of MDD reduces malnutrition risk by 22%. Household's economic status is a strong protective factor, with affluent households showing a 42% lower risk of child malnutrition. Regional disparities also remain crucial as the children belonging to Balochistan province have significantly higher risks of malnutrition. The study also conducts an in-depth analysis for rural-urban settings, noting stronger effects of MDD in urban areas than rural areas. Findings underscore the need for targeted nutrition policies and improved public health interventions to addressing child malnutrition in Pakistan.