Prevalence of Malnutrition and its Associated Factors regarding Malnutrition among under five in selected slum area of Ludhiana, Punjab
Kanika, Jyotika
Department of Community Health Nursing, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha College of Nursing,
Sarabha, Ludhiana - Punjab.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: kanika.sharma155@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a intake of energy and nutrient. Malnutrition is not only an important cause of childhood mortality and morbidity, but also leads to permanent impairment of both physical and mental growth of those who survive. The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in under five, to explore its associated factors regarding malnutrition among under five, find out the association of prevalence with selected demographic variables. A quantitative research approach was used to conduct the study on children under five in selected slum area of Ludhiana. The sample consisted of 120 children by non probability-consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected by using Gomez classification to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and self-structured questionnaire to explore the associated factors among children under five. Data was collected by self report (interview) method. The result showed that the mean age with standard deviation of participants was mean age ±SD= 2.28 ±0.9. According to Gomez classification out of 120 children, 50(41.6%) of children are properly nourished, 45(37.5%) have a mild level of malnutrition followed by 24(20%) with moderate malnutrition and 1(0.8%) with severe malnutrition.
KEYWORDS: Prevalence, Malnutrition, Associated factor, Under five children.
INTRODUCTION:
Children are the foundation of any nation. Children residing in slum areas belong to lower socio-economic strata and live in crowded unhygienic environment.
They are more vulnerable to malnutrition and associated morbidity and mortality. Inappropriate feeding practices like early initiation of complementary feeds, late weaning and inadequate amount of complementary feeds in the later months are the leading causes of protein energy malnutrition.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
A Study to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors regarding malnutrition among under five children in selected slum area of Ludhiana Punjab.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess the prevalence of malnutrition in under five.
2. To explore its associated factors regarding malnutrition among under five.
3. To find out the association of prevalence with selected demographic variables.
4. To develop and implement the IEC material in the form of health education activity regarding preventions of malnutrition among mothers of under five.
NEED FOR THE STUDY:
Malnutrition affects physical growth, morbidity, mortality, cognitive development, reproductive and physical work capacity, and it consequently impacts on human performance, health and survival. It is estimated that that 150 million children under 5 years are underweight and more than 20 million suffer from severe malnutrition.3
Nutritional status plays a vital role in deciding the health status in children. Nutritional deficiencies give rise to various morbidities, which in turn, may lead to increased mortality. Malnutrition apart from impairing growth and development of the child increases his or her susceptibility to infections like Diarrhoea and Pneumonia. It acts in two ways to cause high mortality and morbidities in under five children.4 Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objectives to identify the malnourished children in the selected community and identify the associated factors of the malnutrition.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
A quantitative research approach was used to conduct the study on children under five in selected slum area of Ludhiana. The sample consisted of 120 children by non probability-consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected by using Gomez classification to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and self-structured questionnaire to explore the associated factors among children under five. Data was collected by self report (interview) method. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY:
Section- I
Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of under five children according to socio-demographic characteristics. N=120
Sr. No |
Socio-demographic variable |
f(%) |
1. |
Age of child (in years) <2 2-3 3-4 >4 |
24 (20.0) 53(44.1) 29(24.1) 14(11.6) |
2. |
Gender of child Male Female |
62(51.6) 58(48.3) |
3. |
Birth order 1 2 3 or more |
28(23.3) 68(56.6) 24(20.0) |
4. |
Birth weight of child (Kg) <1 1-3 > 3 |
11(9.1) 70(58.3) 39(32.5) |
5. |
Educational status of mother Illiterate Primary school certificate Secondary school certificate High school certificate Graduate or above |
105(87.5) 13(10.8) 2(1.6) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) |
6. |
Socio economic status As per kuppuswamy scale Upper Class (I) Upper Middle Class (II) Lower Middle (III) Upper Lower (IV) Lower (V) |
1(0.83) 0(0.0) 3(2.5) 16(13.3) 100(83.3) |
Mean age ±SD=2.28+0.91
Section- II
Table-2: Frequency and percentage distribution on prevalence of malnutrition. N=120
Malnutrition |
f(%) |
Yes |
70(58.3) |
No |
50(41.6) |
Table-3: Prevalence of malnutrition According to Gomez Classification N=120
Malnutrition grade |
Weight\ Age(%) |
f(%) |
Normal |
>90% |
50(41.6) |
Grade I (Mild) |
75-89% |
45(37.5) |
Grade II(Moderate) |
61-74% |
24(20.0) |
Grade III(Severe) |
<60% |
1(0.83) |
SECTION-III
Table 4: Item wise analysis of associated factors regarding malnutrition among under five children. N=70
Sr. no. |
Factor 1- (Weight of mother) |
f(%) |
1. |
Weight gained during pregnancy Yes No |
60(86) 10(14) |
Factor 2- (Antenatal History) |
||
2. |
Age (years) at child’ s birth 15-20 21-29 >30 |
42(35.0) 27(22.5) 01(0.83) |
3. |
Supplements during pregnancy (folic acid, calcium). Yes |
50(41.6) 20(16.6) |
4. |
Level of Hb during pregnancy. High Low Normal |
0(0.0) 13(10.8) 57(47.5) |
Factor-3 (Breastfeeding Pattern) |
||
5. |
Colostrum be fed to baby. Yes No |
59(49.1) 11(9.1) |
6. |
Exclusive breast feeding to the child for the first 6 months. Yes No |
56(46.6) 14(11.6) |
7. |
How often breastfeed baby for six months. Once a day Twice a day Thrice a day More |
1(0.83) 3(2.5) 44(36.6) 2(1.6) |
FACTOR-4 (IMMUNIZATION HISTORY) |
||
8. |
Immunization status as per age. Complete Partial |
49(40.8) 21(17.5) |
FACTOR-5 (DIETARY HISTORY OF CHILD) |
||
9. |
Age of weaning. 6 months 1 year 2 year |
57(47.5) 9(7.5) 4(3.3) |
10. |
Type of weaning food provide to child. Banana Rice Khichdi Daal |
18(15.0) 33(27.5) 9(7.5) 10(8.3) |
11. |
How often your child eat meals in a day. < 3 times 3-5 times > 5 times |
36(30.0) 34(28.3) 0(0.0) |
12. |
Child substitute the meals along with candies, chocolates etc. Yes No |
18(15.0) 52(43.3) |
Table 5: Association between prevalence of malnutrition with selected demographic variables N=120
Socio-demographic variables |
N |
Malnutrition |
Chi square and df |
p value |
|
No(f) |
Yes(f) |
||||
Gender Male Female |
62 58 |
27(22.5) 23(19.1) |
35(29.1) 35(29.1) |
0.187 df=1 |
0.403NS |
Birth order 1 2 3 or more |
28 68 24 |
8(6.6) 29(24.1) 13(10.8) |
20(16.6) 39(32.5) 11(9.1) |
3.545 df=2 |
0.170NS |
Birth weight of child (in kg) <1 2-3 >3 |
11 70 39 |
0(0.0) 8(6.6) 42(35.0) |
0(0.0) 18(15.0) 52(43.3) |
1.622 df=1 |
0.147NS |
Educational status of mother Illiterate Primary Secondary High Secondary Graduate Or Above |
105 13 2 0
0 |
44(36.6) 5(4.1) 1(0.8) 0(0.0)
0(0.0) |
61(50.8) 8(6.6) 1(0.8) 0(0.0)
0(0.0) |
0.115 df=2 |
0.944NS |
Kuppuswamy socio-economic status Upper Class Upper Middle Class Lower Middle Upper Lower Lower |
1 0 3 16 100 |
1(0.8) 0(0.0) 1(0.8) 9(7.5) 39(32.5) |
0(0.0) 0(0.0) 2(1.6) 7(5.8) 61(50.8) |
3.178 df=3 |
0.365NS |
Significance (p<0.05); NS= Non significant; *= significant
CONCLUSION:
In the present study, according to Gomez classification out of 120 children, 50(41.6%) of children are properly nourished, 45(37.5%) have a mild level of malnutrition followed by 24(20%) with moderate malnutrition and 1 (0.8%) with severe malnutrition.
There were no significant association with any selected demographic variables.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
· This study can be comparative study to assess prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among under-five in rural and urban selected area.
· The pre experimental study can be conducted to assess and evaluate health education program regarding malnutrition among under five in selected community area.
REFERENCES:
1. Prasot, R.M., Verma, S.K., Kanaujiya, M.K. An epidemiological study of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) among 1-6 years children in rural Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. IOSR J Dental Med Sci. 2014; 13(3): 10-4.
2. 2 of 3 child death in India due to malnutrition: Report. Down to Earth. Latest news, opinion, analysis on environment and science issues. India, South Asia. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/2-of-3-child-deaths-in-india-due-to-malnutrition-repost-66792
3. Priyanka R, Vincent V, Jini MP, Saju CR. An assessment of the nutritional status of under five children in rural area of Thrissur district, KeralaIndia.Int J Community Med Public Health. 2016; 3: 3479-3486.
4. Available from E.B.R. Nursing Research and Statistics. EMMESS Med Medical publIsher.Pg 126
Received on 27.09.2024 Revised on 23.10.2024 Accepted on 11.11.2024 Published on 28.11.2024 Available online on December 31, 2024 A and V Pub J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2024;3(4):145-147. DOI: 10.52711/jnmr.2024.33 ©A and V Publications All right reserved
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