Title: Undernutrition Among Under Five Children Of Rural and Hilly areas of Khag, Kashmir, India: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nazia Zahoor, Abdul Rouf, S M Salim Khan, Mariya Amin, Inamul Haq
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i6.84
Abstract
Background: Undernutrition among under five is one of the greatest public health problems in developing countries particularly in those residing in rural and hilly areas. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of under nutrition in rural and hilly area Khag with objectives to find out prevalence of undernutrition and its severity among the under five children.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Rural and hilly areas of Khag, Kashmir. A simple random sampling technique was used and house to house survey was conducted till a required number of the children aged 1-5 years were included in the study. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaires was used and age, weight, height and MUAC of the children were measured.
Results: Out of 300 children studied, 141 (47%) were having malnutrition in the form of underweight, 130 (43.3%) wasting and 101 (33.7%) stunting, showing overlapping in most of the cases. In 101 stunted children 44.4% were among females and 25.1% among males (c2=12.116, df=1, p value=0.000). Among 141 underweight children 82% were among females and 19.2% among males and difference was again statistically significant (c2=117.192, df=1, p value=0.000).70.3.% children were having MUAC more than 13.5 cm and 28.7% children were having Malnutrition and 1% Severe Malnutrition. Gender analysis revealed statistically significant difference in MUAC (p valve= 0.000 by Fisher’s Exact test)
Conclusions: Malnutrition is more prevalent among study population than expected and itseems that gender related bias is one of the main causes of malnutrition besides increasing family size. Implementation of the National Nutritional Programmes in these areas is a matter of concern and need to be addressed.
Keywords: Under five children, Malnutrition, Stunting, Underweight, Wasting.
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