Abstract

This study attempts to examine the association between neighbourhood home clean cooking fuel use and child stunting in 60 districts of Uttar Pradesh using the recently released NFHS-5(2019–21) data. The descriptive statistic and ordinary least square regression analysis in the study reveals great disparities in child stunting, underweight and fuel among districts. The model accounted for 35.1% of the variation in stunting (R² = 0.351) and child underweight was positively and significantly associated (β = 0.464, p < 0.001). On the other hand, use of clean household energy for cooking was negatively associated with stunting (β = −0.194, p = 0.003) indicating that improved availability to household energy may reduce the risk of malnutrition. Higher prevalence of underweight was associated with higher prevalence of stunting and higher access to clean fuel was associated with lower stunting.  The findings suggest a need for complementary nutrition interventions and access to clean energy. The findings can assist policymakers in Uttar Pradesh to develop district-specific programs to tackle malnutrition in children by integrating household energy interventions with nutrition policies.