Context: Nutrition is one of the most important factors that affect a child's health. It plays a vital role in the prevention and control of disease morbidity and mortality. It is a major public health problem in a developing country like India. Aims: To assess undernutrition in under-five children and various sociodemographic factors affecting it. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among under-five children of rural and urban Rishikesh. A total sample size of 400 under-five children was taken. Multistage sampling was done to select the areas and systematic random sampling was done for selection of households. Subject and Methods: A predesigned, pretested, and semistructured questionnaire was used to collect information on the sociodemographic characteristics and status of undernutrition in study participants. Statistical Analysis Used: Data was entered into excel sheets and analyzed using SPSS version 23 utilizing appropriate statistical methods. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 37.3%, stunting 43.3% and wasting 24.5%. Underweight (40.5% v/s 35.0%), stunting (46.5% v/s 40.0%), and wasting (27.0% v/s 22.0%) was more prevalent in urban areas as compared to rural areas. Sociodemographic factors such as religion, caste, parental education, father's occupation, and family size emerged as significant predictors of under nutrition. Conclusion: Undernutrition in under-five children was quite high. Since childhood malnutrition is multifactorial, there is no single cause big enough to blame but a multifaceted approach is required to combat malnutrition.

Background: Undernutrition has long been a major public health concern in developing country like India as a leading cause of child morbidity and mortality.  Aim & Objectives: To assess undernutrition in under five children and various associated factors affecting it. Methods and Material: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 400 under five children in Rishikesh. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 37.3%, stunting was 43.3% and wasting was 24.5% respectively. Common morbidity emerged as significant predictors of under nutrition. Conclusion: The burden of common morbidities and prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in this community is very high.

Context: Under nutrition has long been a major public health concern in developing country like India as a leading cause of child morbidity and mortality. The study was aimed to assess the malnutrition and factors associated with it. The study was conducted to assess under nutrition in under five children and various associated factors affecting it. Methodology A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 400 under five children of rural and urban Rishikesh. Multistage sampling method was used to select the areas and systematic random sampling was used to select households. A predesigned, pre tested & semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information on various associated factors and status of under nutrition in study participants. Data was entered into excel sheets and analyzed using SPSS utilizing appropriate statistical test. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 37.3%, stunting was 43.3% and wasting was 24.5% respectively. Socio-demographic factors, child birth weight and birth order, hand washing practice by mother and common morbidity emerged as significant predictors of under nutrition. Conclusion: The burden of common morbidities and prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in this community is very high. Our policies should aim to improve child health nutrition and growth.

No abstract