Abstract
Introduction: Malnourished children, especially in rural area fail to ahieve their full developmental potential.
Objective: To study the clinico-demographic profile of children with malnutrition in Kishanganj district, Bihar.
Material and Methods: A total of 250 children aged between 1-5 years were studied in outdoor and indoor department of MGM medical college and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar for demographical, clinical and assessment of malnutrition using Indian academy of pediatrics classification (IAP).s
Results: out of total 250 children covered in the present study, male and female children are evenly distributed, 52% female and 48% male. In general, age distribution is similar for both the sexes, excepting the fact that female children are relatively more found in 2-3year age group and males in 4-5 yrs group. 72% of the children were Muslim and 28% children were Hindu. Children of farmer parents were found more malnourished (42%). Malnutrition was prevalent in children of illiterate parents (75%). As per IAP classification for malnutrition, 12% was found to be normal, 28% and 26% was found to be in grade – II and grade – IV malnutrition respectively followed by 20% in grade III and 14% in grade – I. Grade II malnutrition was found more prevalent. Maximum percentage of malnutrition seen in 2-3 years and 3-4 years age group. 68% children were partially immunized, 18% children were non immunized, 14% children were immunized. Higher prevalence of malnourished children were observed in partially immunized and non immunized children in comparison to fully immunized children.
Conclusion: Present study concludes that malnutrition is much prevalent in this part of Bihar. – Illiteracy, Low income, unimmunization, high prevalence of TB, lack of breast feeding, unemployment create a multifectorial causation of malnutrition. So, this is a major problem in this part and this can be prevented by increasing immunisation coverage, literacy, employment, encouraging breast feeding. This can be done by improvement of female education, health education, administrative support, better health services, and financial support by Govt. and NGOs (Non Government Organisation).
Keywords: Malnutrition; child development; literacy; rural; nutrition
References
1. Jelliffe DB. The assessment of the nutritional status of the community (with special reference to field surveys in developing regions of the world) Monogr Ser World Health Organ. 1966;53:3–271.
2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Nutrition in India. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3). India. 2005-2006.
3. Larson L M, Young MF, Ramakrishnan U, Webb Girard A et al. A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rural Bihar, India, Indicates That Nutritional Status, Diet, and Stimulation Are Associated with Motor and Mental Development in Young Children.J Nutr. 2017 Jun 14. pii: jn251231. doi: 10.3945/jn.117.251231.
4. Chaudhury RN. Determinants of nutrient adequacy in a rural area of Bangladesh. Food Nutr Bull. 1986 8:24–31.
5. Chakraborty S et al. A study of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in children (0-6 y) in a rural population of Jhansi District (U.P.) Indian Journal of community Medicine.2006.Oct-Dec;34(4):291-292.
6. R. N. Mishra et al. “ Nutritional status and Dietary Intake of Preschool Children in urban status of Varanasi”. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 2001 Apr-Jun; 26(2):90-93.
7. Joshi S, Walgankar SS. “ Epidemiology of malnuttion in a rural field practice area of Navi Mumbai” Indian Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine. 2004 Jan-Jun; 35(1-2):80-84.
8. Gupta MC, Mehrotra M, Arora S, Saran M. Relation of childhood malnutrition to parental education and mother’s nutrition related KAP. Indian J Pediatr. 1991 Mar-Apr;58(2):269-74.
9. Christuensen L, Alderman H. Child malnutrition in Ethiopia: Can maternal knowledge augment due role of Income? Economic Development and Cultural Change 2004 52:2, 287-312 Oct – 1,2001.
10. Schuftan C, Valenzuela M, LOpez V, Zapata R, Jaque G, Gattas V, Aguayo M.Low School performance: malnutrition or cultural deprivation? Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1975 Jun;25(2):121-34.
11. Pal S .An Analysis of Childhood Malnutrition in Rural India: Role of Gender, Income and Other Household Characteristics. World Development, 27 (7). pp. 1151-1171.
12. Rao TV, Vijay T et al .Malnutrition and Anemia in Tribal pediatric population of Purnia district (Bihar) .Indian Pediatr. 2006 Feb;43(2):181-2.
13. Nanda S, Mishra CP . Protein energy malnutrition in infants of Varanasi by anthropometric criteria. Indian Journal of preventive and social medicine, 1996 Jan-Jun, 27 (1 & 2): 11-6.
14. Laditan AA, Reeds PJ..A study of the age of onset, diet and the importance of infection in the pattern of severe PEM in Ibadan, Nigeria. Br J Nutr. 1976 Nov;36(3):411-9.
15. Awasthi A ,Pande V.K. Prevalence of malnutrition and intestinal parasites in pre school slum children in lucknow. Indian Pediatr. 1997 Jul;34(7):599-605.
16. Kappor S.K. et al.Effectiveness of measles immunisation on diarrhoea and malnut-rition related mortality in 1-4 year . Indian J Pediatr. 1991 Nov-Dec;58(6):821-3.
17. Ray S K; Biswas A B; Gupta S D; Mukherjee D et al. Rapid assessment at nutrition status and dietary pattern in municipal area. Indian Journal of community medicine. 2000 Jan-Mar; 25(1): 14-8.
18. Owor M, Tumwine JK, Kikafunda JK..Socioeconomic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition among children in Mulago Hspital, Kampala. East Afr Med J 2000 Sep; 77 (9), 471-5.
Corresponding Author
Dr Santosh Kumar
F-110, New Doctors Hostel, MGM Campus, Kishanganj, Bihar
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i7.53
