Study of nutritional and immunization status in children 6 months to 3 years attending outpatient department at a tertiary care hospital in rural South Rajasthan, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20184703Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Immunization, MalnutritionAbstract
Background: Good nutrition, particularly in the first three years of life, is important in establishing and maintaining a good foundation that has implications on a child’s future physical and mental health. The present study has been undertaken to study the “Impact of the nutritional and immunization services on the children between 6 months to 3 years,” with special emphasis to identify moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases.
Methods: This observational study was conducted from August 2017 to July 2018 in department of paediatrics at pacific institute of medical science included 400 cases age between 6 months to 3 years.
Results: Incidence of SAM and MAM is 7.5% and 30.75 % respectively. Female predominance was seen in SAM and MAM i.e. 53.4% and 54.6% respectively. Significant association of under-nutrition was found with LBW (p<0.05), not giving exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months of life (p<0.05) and, Low socioeconomic status (p<0.001). Higher numbers of females were unvaccinated.
Conclusions: Despite introduction of various national programs at different levels for improvement of maternal and child health, we still have significant number of children who are undernourished and unimmunized. Children are future of our nation and their health is of paramount importance. It can only be achieved with strong political will, active participation of community and by increase commitment of health care professionals. We need to start from birth, institutional delivery, exclusive breast feeding, immunization, and timely introduction of complementary feeds, marriages at appropriate age, proper antenatal visits and birth spacing.
References
Shah PU, Patel NJ: A study about prevalence of under nutrition among slum children of 0-60 months of age of Mehsana city. International Research Journal 2009;2(7):84-5.
De Onis M, Monteiro C, Akré J, Clugston G. The worldwide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: an overview from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth. Bulletin of the World health Organization. 1993;71(6):703-12.
UNICEF. Child Mortality 2017. 3 UN Plazas, New York, New York, 10017 USA: UNICEF; 2017. p. 1-40.
WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group: WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/ height for age, weight for age, weight for length, weight for height and body mass index for age: Methods and development. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2006
International Union of Nutrition Sciences. Statement of endorsement of the WHO Child Growth Standards.2006 ;2-3
Singh T, Sharma S, Nagesh S. Socio-economic status scales updated for 2017. Int J Res Med Sci. 2017;5(7):3264-7.
Mittal A, Singh J, Ahluwalia SK. Effect of maternal factors on nutritional status of 1-5-year-old children in urban slum population. Indian J Community Med 2007;32(4):264-67
Kumar A, Kamath V, Kamath A, Rao CR, Pattanshetty S, Sagir A. Nutritional status assessment of under five beneficiaries under integrated child development services program in rural Karnataka. Austral Med J. 2010;3(8):495–8.
Bose K, Biswas S, Bisai S, Ganguli S, Khatun A, Mukhopadhyay A, Bhadra M. Stunting, underweight and wasting among Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme children aged 3-5 years. Matern Child Nutr. 2007;3(3):216-21
Padmamohan JP, Khandeka Raju. Low birth weight as a determinant of protein energy malnutrition in 0–5 years Omani children of South Batinah region, Oman. Saudi Med J. 2004;25(8):1091–6.
Solomon Amsalu, Zemene Tigabu. Risk factors for severe acute malnutrition in children under the age of five: A case-control study. Ethiop J Health Dev 2008;1:22-4
Nahar B, Ahmed T, Brown KH, Hossain MI: Risk Factors Associated with Severe Underweight among Young Children Reporting to a Diarrhoea Treatment Facility in Bangladesh. J Health Popul Nutr. 2010, 28 (5):476-83
Saito K, Korzenik JR, Jekel JF, Bhattacharji S. A case-control study of maternal knowledge of malnutrition and health-care-seeking attitudes in rural South India. Yale J Biol Med. 1997;70(2):149-60
Azim W, Shafi H, Qureshi SM, Sheikh TS, Azim S,Hayat F. Perceptions and practices of mothers regarding child feeding. Biomedica. 2005;21:71-5.
