Archives of Current Research International

Floods are recurring natural disasters in Bihar, India, posing serious challenges to maternal and child health by exacerbating food insecurity, compromising hygiene practices, and disrupting essential health services. This study tried to assess the relationship between food insecurity, maternal health practices, environmental conditions, and the nutritional status of children in Flood-Prone Areas (FPAs) of Bihar. Children under five are more at risk of under-nutrition when poverty, environmental fragility, and insufficient public health systems are combined. The four interconnected pillars of availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability make up food security. In flood-prone regions, each of these dimensions is compromised. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 mothers with children under the age of five. Data were collected on antenatal care (ANC), delivery practices, hygiene behaviour, and environmental health, alongside anthropometric measurements of children. Results showed that only 37% of mothers had ANC follow-up, 33% delivered at home, and 89.5% relied on unprotected water sources. Household food insecurity was substantially correlated with lack of ANC (p=0.02), home delivery (p=0.01), poor hand-washing practices (p=0.04), unprotected water source (p=0.04), and absence of latrine (p=0.01). Regression analysis confirmed significant predictors of food insecurity included poor hand-washing (AOR=2.89, p=0.004) and lack of latrine facilities (AOR=3.92, p<0.001). Child malnutrition was alarmingly high, i.e., wasting (66%), stunting (64%), and underweight (83%). Food insecurity was strongly associated with child malnutrition, particularly underweight (AOR=3.15, p<0.001). Findings emphasize the urgent steps to be taken for integrated interventions to strengthen mothers' health care facilities, improve WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene), and malnutrition under five years old, ensuring food security during floods in Bihar.