1Assistant Professor & Head, Dietetics and Applied Nutrition, Amity University, Gurgaon, Haryana
2Professor & Deputy Dean Academics, Amity University, Gurgaon, Haryana
Online published on 30 December, 2015.
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a strong link with chronic disease and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is widely prevalent face of malnutrition in children less than five years of age. It is still a major problem in India especially in urban slums.
The present study was conducted on hundred Preschool children 1–5 years of age attending Rural and urban Community Centre st Sohna and Gurgaon (NCR). The children were selected randomly. The clinical signs of all the selected subjects were recorded. The children had all the signs of malnourishment. The prevalence and causes of malnutrition were found out. It was based on interview cum questionnaire method which was applied on mothers of the children. After the Protein Calorie Malnutrition was ruled out, the treatment and management of the diseases was carried out by the investigator. The data showed that the subjects of Sohna had less income levels than Gurgaon city. The subjects belonged below poverty line and was earning less than 10.000/-per month.
According to the survey all the subjects belonging to rural and urban areas had very low birth weight from 1.5–2.5 kgs. This was the main reason for the Protein Calorie Malnutrition. The other causes for PEM was poverty and around 70–78 per cent of subjects were living in poverty that is evident from their economic status as well. There was lack of knowledge about nutrition among the mothers and they were feeding starchy gruels, rice, potato to the children. Seventy-Eighty per cent of the subjects were consuming such type of diets. Mothers of all subjects were having irregular eating habits and they were skipping the meals of children as well. Timely weaning, education and promotion of essential vaccination was advised to reduce childhood malnutrition especially severe PEM. Feeding was started as soon as possible. The Diets provided 100 kcal/kg of energy and 1–1.5g/kg protein per day. The child was fed every two hours/three hours and breastfeeding was also continued.
