Prevalence of nutritional problems and their association with feeding practices in children of age 1-3 years attending a tertiary care centre in South Kerala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20262420Keywords:
Malnutrition, Feeding practices, Breastfeeding, Dietary diversity, Toddlers, Complementary feedingAbstract
Background: Malnutrition during early childhood adversely affects growth, immunity, and neurodevelopment. Feeding practices play a major role in determining nutritional outcomes among young children.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 140 children aged 1-3 years attending a tertiary care centre in South Kerala. Sociodemographic details and feeding practices were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric assessment was performed using WHO growth standards. Associations between feeding practices and nutritional status were analysed using Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test.
Results: Among 140 children, 52.9% were male and 65.7% belonged to the lower middle socioeconomic class. Underweight, stunting, and wasting were observed in 15.7%, 17.1%, and 8.6% of children respectively. Early initiation of breastfeeding was reported in 55.7%, while 89.3% were exclusively breastfed for six months. Most children had poor dietary diversity (57.2%). No statistically significant association was found between feeding practices, dietary diversity, maternal education, socioeconomic status, and acute malnutrition (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Despite favourable breastfeeding practices, undernutrition and poor dietary diversity persist among toddlers. Strengthening caregiver counselling on complementary feeding and dietary diversity remains essential.
References
UN Human Rights. Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instrumentsmechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child. Accessed on 20 May 2026.
WHO. Infant and young child feeding, 2023. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/infant-andyoungchildfeeding. Accessed on 20 May 2026.
WHO. Guideline for Complementary Feeding of Infants and Young Children 6-23 Months of Age. 1st ed. Geneva: WHO; 2023: 1.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India. Early Childhood Nutrition. UNICEF India, 2026. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/early-childhood-nutrition. Accessed on 20 May 2026.
Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.18th ed. Saunders: Elseveir. 2007.
Prasad R, Shukla A, Galhotra A. Feeding practices and nutritional status of children (6-23 months) in an urban area of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. J Family Med Prim Care. 2023;12(10):2366-72.
WHO, UNICEF. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices. Geneva: WHO; 2010.
ICMR‑National Institute of Nutrition. Nutrient requirements for Indians: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Estimated Average Requirements, 2020. Available at: https://drklbcollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DOC-20220614WA0002_-1. Accessed on 20 May 2026.
Arimond M, Ruel MT. Dietary diversity is associated with child nutritional status: evidence from 11 demographic and health surveys. J Nutr. 2004;134(10):2579-85.
Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD-IYCF), 2026. Available at: https://inddex.nutrition.tufts.edu/data4diets/indicator/minimum-dietary-diversity-mdd-iycf. Accessed on 20 May 2026.
Jabeen R, Updated socioeconomic classification: revised modified B. G. Prasad and modified Kuppuswamy scales for January 2025. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2025.
Radhamani KV, Rajeev SV. A study on nutritional status of Anganwadi children in a rural area of North Kerala. Indian J Child Health. 2017;4(3):348-51.
Perayil A, K SM. Nutritional status and risk factors for malnutrition among children aged 1-6 years in tribal communities of Malappuram district, Kerala: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Public Health. 2025;3(1):e001168.
Sangroula RK, Uprety S. Factors associated with nutritional status of under five children among Satar Community of Bhadrapur Municipality, Jhapa, Nepal. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2020;7(6):2059.
Philip R, Vijayakumar K, Indu P, Shrinivasa B, Sreelal T, Balaji J. Prevalence of undernutrition among tribal preschool children in Wayanad district of Kerala. Int J Adv Med Health Res. 2015;2(1):33.
Shah DJ, Bali S. Study of Nutritional Status and Identification of Associated Risk Factors in Children below Five Years of Age in an Urban Slum of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 2015;27(04).
Sundaram MP, Kaveri P, Kalaivanan R, Anantharaman VV, Selvaraj P. Unveiling Childhood Health: A Rural Cross-Sectional Study of Nutritional Status among Under-Five Children in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. Indian J Community Med Off Publ Indian Assoc Prev Soc Med. 2025;50(4):621-8.
Vikram K, Vanneman R. Maternal education and the multidimensionality of child health outcomes in India. J Biosoc Sci. 2020;52(1):57-77.
Walters CN, Rakotomanana H, Komakech JJ, Stoecker BJ. Maternal determinants of optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding and their association with child undernutrition in Malawi (2015-2016). BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1503.
Chataut J, Jonchhe S, Ghimire M. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Malnutrition in Under Five Children in a Rural Mountainous Area of Nepal: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ). 2020;18(72):407-13.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
