Assessment of prevalence of protein energy malnutrition in under 5 year children in an urban slum of Mumbai, India and to study associated factors

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONEach type of malnutrition is the result of a complex interplay of factors involving such diverse elements as household access to food, maternal and child-care, safe water and sanitation and access to basic health services. Children, who fail to get enough medical attention or receive only fragmented care, grow up shattered, both in body and mind. These children are to become our next generation. We will be left with a legacy of damaged ABSTRACT Background: In urban slums, several socio-demographic factors contribute for the occurrence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in under-five year children, this study aims at Assessment of prevalence of protein energy malnutrition in under-5 year children in an urban slum of Mumbai and to study associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Urban Slum which is a field practice area of institition.Under-5 children were included in the study and information was gathered by interviewing mother/guardian and recording anthropometric measurement of the child. Data was analysed with SPSS v.16 with suitable tests. Result: Prevalence of PEM was found 56%, more per cent of PEM was found in 13-24 month age 64 (66.7%), 120 (54.1%) boys, 122 (55%) non-nuclear family dwellers, in 126 (56.8%) children whose mothers got married<18 years age. About 116 (52.3%) children of illiterate mothers, 158(71.2%) children of birth order >2, 198(89.2%) children who were not given colostrum and 168 (75.7%) who were not given exclusive breast feeding, in 152(68.5%) children with incomplete immunisation, 122 (55%) children with more than 3 episodes of ARI, 142(64%) with >3 episodes of Diarrhoea. 86 (82.7%) children with PEM belonged to Class V, (B.G Prasad classification), statistically significant association of PEM was found with the factors age of child, mother's education, birth order, immunisation status, mother's age at marriage, exclusive breast feeding, history of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and diarrhoea, and socio-economic status. Conclusion: Study has found certain socio-demographic factors like age, gender and birth order of child, type of family, age of mother during marriage and her literacy level, giving colostrum, exclusive breast feeding, immunisation and frequency of ARI and diarrhoea associated with PEM.

Impact of determinants on nutritional status among children up to five years at tertiary care hospital, HIMS, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh

“…6,7 ARI episodes in past 6 months was observed significantly among one-fifth of underweight children and diarrhoea episodes in past 6 months among nearly one-third underweight children that shown similar finding reported by Tiwari et al study. 4 Incomplete immunizations were detected among nearly two-fifth of underweight children which shown similar findings by Gondikar et al, Shukla et al and opposite findings by Tiwari et al study. 4,5,7 Rafath et al study as compared to similar finding observed for handwashing practices of mother and comparatively less proportion observed for always use soap for hand wash by mother in the present study.…”

“…4 Incomplete immunizations were detected among nearly two-fifth of underweight children which shown similar findings by Gondikar et al, Shukla et al and opposite findings by Tiwari et al study. 4,5,7 Rafath et al study as compared to similar finding observed for handwashing practices of mother and comparatively less proportion observed for always use soap for hand wash by mother in the present study. 8 Untrimmed nails were detected among one-third of underweight children and distance of located PHC >5 km was placed among three-fifth of underweight children highly significant which shows similar result reported by Biswas et al that distance of a health center affect health status.…”

“…[4][5][6][7] Exclusive breastfeeding was observed among one-third of underweight children as compared to nearly one-fourth of normal children where similar result observed by Tiwari et al, Ansuya et al and opposite result observed by Shukla et al and colostrum intake was found nearly similar result observed by Tiwari et al and opposite result observed by Ansuya et al study. 4,6,7 Complementary feeding started after 6 months among two-third of underweight children which shown similar observation by Shukla et al and bottle feeding was found among nearly two-fifth of underweight children that shown similar finding reported by Ansuya et al study. 6,7 ARI episodes in past 6 months was observed significantly among one-fifth of underweight children and diarrhoea episodes in past 6 months among nearly one-third underweight children that shown similar finding reported by Tiwari et al study.…”

An epidemiological study of malnutrition in children from six months to five years of age to assess the prevalence and factors related to it, in a rural area of Palghar district of Maharashtra

“…A study conducted by Tiwari et al among under five children of urban slum of Mumbai found significant association between birth order of child and malnutrition. 16 Women's age at marriage and child malnutrition was also statistically significant (p=0.009). Raj et al concluded that the risk of malnutrition is higher among young children born to mothers married as minors than in those born to women married at a majority age.…”

Nutritional assessment of under five children in a rural belt of southern Rajasthan,India

“…Mother's educational status was significantly associated with under-nutrition in the study done at Kalaburagi District of Karnataka [25]. Various studies done by Tiwari SR et al [33] in Mumbai, Sarkar S et al [34] in West Bengal and Upadhyay et al [35] in Puducherry showed that household income was significantly associated with malnutrition.…”