A study of nutritional status of children below six years’ age in an urban slum of Gurgaon, Haryana

Tarun Kumar; Dr Balbir Singh Deswal; Dr Vijay Kumar Singhal

Volume : V, Issue : VII, July - 2016

A study of nutritional status of children below six years’ age in an urban slum of Gurgaon, Haryana

Tarun Kumar, Dr Balbir Singh Deswal, Dr Vijay Kumar Singhal

Abstract :

Background: Poorly nourished child grows less rapidly during first 6 years of age. In India, around 43% of under five children were underweight. Child malnutrition reflects a number of intermediately processes such as household access to food, access to health service and c� practices. the present study was conducted to study the nutritional status among preschool children (0–6 years) in urban slum. Objectives:1. To assess the nutritional status of children below six years� age group and to know the prevalence of malnutrition. 2. To explore most probable risk factors influencing malnutrition. Material and Methods:The study was a community based cross–sectional study carried out in 500 randomly selected households in a slum area of Gurgaon among the children below 6 years age using pretested Performa which contained details regarding socio–demographic, nutritional conditions and utilization health care services. Nutritional status was assessed by Physical examination, anthropometric measurement, hemoglobin & parasitological (stool) tests done. Nutritional grading was done according to by physical and anthropometric examination of child using Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) classification and supplemented by WHO growth chart. Data was entered in the MS Excel sheet and analyzed using Epi info Ver 7. Results:During survey acute illness detected among 0.25% children and chronic illness prevalence was 25%. Prevalence of malnutrition was found to be 43.86% (37.73% among males, 50.0 % among females). Clinical signs of nutritional deficiency were detected among 31.48 % of children. Common types of nutrition deficiency were anemia, PEM, and vitamin A & B complex deficiencies. Main reasons of poor nutritional status were attributed to female sex, poor literacy of parents, low socioeconomic status, higher No. siblings and large family, recurrent diarrhea and other infections, prolonged east feeding with delayed introduction of supplements particularly semisolid and poor quality of supplements. Intestinal parasite detected among 38.43% of children, commonest parasite being giardia, ascariasis & thread worms. Existing health services utilized in 30.72% of total illness. This was identified not due to lack of knowledge but other domestic problems. Conclusion: Prevalence of malnutrition was attributed to poor living conditions, poor literacy status of parents, higher No. of siblings, poor utilization of health services, poor nutritional services of children and faulty east feeding and weaning practices in the family; public health specialists should plan interventions focusing on these issues.