Pattern of morbidities among Preschool Children in North Kerala, India

Dr Anitha S S; Dr A K Jayasree; Dr Devaki Antherjanam S

Volume : VIII, Issue : XII, December - 2018

Pattern of morbidities among Preschool Children in North Kerala, India

Dr Anitha S S, Dr A K Jayasree, Dr Devaki Antherjanam S

Abstract :

The health status of the children serves as a sensitive indicator of the overall health of any community. The objective of this cross–sectional study was to assess the pattern of morbidities (acute and chronic) among anganwadi preschool children in Kannur district, North Kerala and to identify factors associated with the most prevalent morbidities. The study included 456 preschool children. It was found that the most prevalent morbidities were acute respiratory infection and acute diarrheal disease. The study found that normal nutritional status and exclusive east feeding till first six months of age had significant effect on lesser occurrence of respiratory infection. In the present study it was found that the mean prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and acute diarrheal disease (ADD) were 4.08 episodes/child/yr and 1.276 episodes/child/yr respectively. The most frequent chronic illnesses were feile seizure and asthma