Background: Nutritional status of under five children is a matter of concern worldwide and malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems. The children of urban slums carry relatively more risk due to their epidemiological profile, exposure to infectious agents and lifestyle-related risk factors, and culture-based health beliefs. Objectives: To access the nutritional status and associated comorbidities among under five children in the urban slums of Berhampur. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was carried out among 385 children between 6 and 59 months of age residing in the urban slum areas of Berhampur Odisha. Out of total 174 slums, 20% (35) were selected randomly and from each of these 35 slums, 11 children were selected. The assessment of the nutritional status of the child was done using the World Health Organization, weight for age (WFA), weight for height (WFH), height for age (HFA), and MUAC and general physical examination. Results: In our study, the prevalence of underweight (low WFA), stunting (low HFA), and wasting (low WFH) was 152 (39.48%), 160 (41.43%), and 144 (37.20%), respectively. No children were observed with overweight or obesity. The prevalence of ARI, diarrhoea, worm infestation, skin diseases, dental problems, ear and eye infections, and injury were 32.98%, 13.77%, 9.61%, 4.67%, 4.41%, 2.86%, and 1.03%, respectively. Conclusion: It was observed that the prevalence of undernutrition was more than the state average but overnutrition was absent in our study area. Regarding the comorbid conditions, nearly one-third of the children had anemia and RTI, both were significantly associated with malnutrition.
Background: Family planning services have the potential to improve the quality of the lives of people and their economic welfare. Objectives: To determine knowledge and practice of contraception and to find out the association between contraceptive practices and different variables. Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted among 300 married women of 15–49 year age group of urban slums of Berhampur, Odisha, using a pretested and predesigned schedule. Results: Majority of women (93%) were aware of different types of FP methods but only 79.7% of females had known where the services are available. Health worker females (77.3%) act as the most influential source of information about contraceptive practices followed by the ASHA (71.6%). The contraceptive prevalence rate was 78.7%. Out of 236 Current users, temporary methods were being adopted by 65.3% and permanent methods by 34.7% respectively. Among the temporary method users, 24.1% of women used oral contraceptive pills, IUCD and injectables were being used by 6.4% each and condoms were being used by the partners of 28.4% of women as a means of contraception. Acceptance of family planning methods was significantly associated with variables such as increasing age, nuclear family, and level of literacy. Conclusion: The prevalence of contraceptive use was high among the study population, but the use of a modern and safe method of contraception was low. Continuous IEC activities by the service providers such as ASHAs, AWWs, and HWFs with support from the supervisor matters for better adherence to contraceptive methods.
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