1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
2Research Scholar, Dept of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU
3Ex. Professor& Head, M.L.N Medical College, Allahabad
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Hari Shankar. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Email: dr_h_shankar@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 4 February, 2016.
A child's entire life is determined in large measures by the food given to him during his first five years because childhood period is of rapid growth and development and nutrition is one of the influencing factors in this period. Traditionally preschool children have been considered as one of the most vulnerable segments for under nutrition. The magnitude of the problem of malnutrition among children under five is very high throughout India especially under nutrition among under five years of children continues to be a major problem of public health.
(a) To find out magnitude of the problem. (b) To determine the factors influencing nutritional status of children. (c) To co relates factors influencing the nutritional status of the children.
The sample of 369 under six children was drawn by applying multistage random sampling technique. Chi-square test was applied for data analysis.
The mean age of male children was found to be 34.84 ± 17.82 months while it was 34.13 ± 17.51 months in female children. 190 (55.55%) were found to be living in kaccha houses, 102 (28.82%) were living in semi pucca houses and only 50 (14.62%) were living in pucca houses. Nutritional status of male children was significantly associated with age χ2= 8, Nutritional status of female children was significantly associated with age χ2= 7.9 (P< 0.05).
Present study showed proportionally all groups of malnutrition were more prevalent in age group 0–12 months.
Birth order, Environmental factors, Gomez classification, Malnutrition
