Longitudinal Child Growth and Malnutrition Data from Rural Southern India

540 children from the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) birth cohort were tracked from 2009. Trained staff recorded height and weight using standardized methods every six months until 24 months, then yearly until 60 months. The data compares growth patterns between low-birth-weight and normal-birth-weight children in rural Telangana.

Use Cases

• Modeling growth trajectory patterns based on repeated height and weight measurements.
• Comparing malnutrition prevalence (stunting, wasting, underweight) between low-birth-weight and normal-birth-weight groups.
• Analyzing sex-based differences in growth patterns among boys and girls.
• Assessing the narrowing of growth deficits over time using survival curve analysis.

Strengths

• Longitudinal design with measurements from 6 to 60 months, allowing for trend analysis.
• 540 children provide a substantial cohort for a focused rural study.
• Standardized anthropometric methods (height/weight) were used by trained staff.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is geographically limited to rural villages in one district of Telangana, India.

Provenance

Source

Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) birth cohort.

Collection Method

Height and weight recorded via standardized methods by trained staff at scheduled intervals.

Time Range

Cohort established in 2009, with data collection spanning from birth to 60 months.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-14 05:45:06; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Rural to peri-urban villages in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, Telangana State, India, approximately 40 km from Hyderabad.