Abstract

Background: Under-five children are most vulnerable group and their nutritional status and mortality rate is a sensitive indicator of community health and nutrition of a country. The study was carried out to Assess Prevalence of Malnutrition among Under-five School Children.

Materials & Methods: Convenience sampling method used to select 140 school children in the age group 2 ½ to 5 Years from selected schools at Alankuppam, Puducherry, India.

Results: Prevalence of severe malnutrition more among boys 4 (6.3%) compare to the girls 0 (0) based on Weight for Height Z score of school children. Prevalence of Moderate Malnutrition more among boys 15 (23.4%) and Girls 13 (17.1%) based on Weight for Height Z score of school children. Prevalence of malnutrition more among boys compare to the girls based on Weight for Height Z score of school children. Correlation of Height and Weight of under-five school children with selected demographic variables reveals that mother age have relationship with malnutrition Z score of school children, which has significant at p > 0.04 and with BMI of School children significant at    p > 0.02.

Keywords: Underfive Children, Under nutrition, Obesity, Overweight, Growth and development.