A Study of Nutritional Status of Pre School Children in Muzaffarnagar District (Uttar Pradesh)

Malnutrition among children is a critical problem as its effects are long lasting. Almost half of children under 5 are chronically malnourished.

To study the anthropometric measurements, so as to assess the nutritional status and to find out the prevalence of Proten Energy Malnutition in Preschool children of this region.

The present study comprises of 675 apparently healthy children from the Well Baby Clinic of the Department of Pediatrics, Muzaffarnagar Medical College from 01/07/2015 to 31/03/2016. In each child information regarding age, family size and income, feeding habits and residential status were recorded on a prepared format. They were also subjected to anthropometric examination.

Male children were heavier than their female counterparts in all age groups except 43–48 months in case of urban children where female children weighed more. The mean values for weight were higher in case of urban children than rural children in all age groups. Regarding height the mean heights in case of male children were more than female children in all age groups except between 13–18 months where female children had higher mean value for height. Again, the mean values of height were more among urban children than rural children. Regarding nutritional status, in 51.26% children, weight was more than 80% of Harvard Standard whereas 32%, 12.59%, 3.41% and 0.74% children had grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 malnutrition respectively.

Prevalence of malnutrition was high between 1–2 years. Prevalence of malnutrition was significantly higher in rural children than urban children. This was attributed to social customs and beliefs, poor hygiene, ignorance about the nutritional requirements of growing children among rural people.