The Influence of Gender and Socio-Economic Factors in Nutritional Status of Under Five Children

The prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the World and is nearly double as that of Sub Saharan Africa. Many factors play a role in nutritional status of the children. Thorough understanding of these factors is extremely necessary to develop effective intervention strategies to combat malnutrition. The present study is undertaken to know the influence of gender and socio-economic factors in nutritional status of under five children.

1. To study the influence of gender and socio-economic factors on nutritional status of under five children. 2. To study the prevalence of malnutrition with the gender difference.

Study design: Community based Cross - Sectional study

Study setting: Children of 0 to 60 months age of Anaji village of Davangere district, which is rural field practice area of JJM Medical College, Davangere

Study period: 1st June to 31st December 2013.

Sample size: 265

Method and Material A study was done by interview of the mothers by using pre designed and pre tested semi structured questionnaire

Nutritional status grading was done based on weight for age as per the new WHO child growth standards. Out of total 265 children studied, 45% were males and 55% females.31% of children were malnourished. As per the sex-wise distribution of malnutrition, under nutrition and severe undernutrition was more in females than males i.e.43 (30%) and 7(4%) of females and 30(25%) and 4(3%) of males respectively.

In the present study it was found that females had a higher proportion of malnutrition compared to males but it was statistically not significant. Socioeconomic factors like educational status of parents, occupation of mother, socio economic status and type of family were significantly impact the nutritional status of the children