National Journal of Community Medicine
Original Article
Year: 2022 | Volume: 13 | Issue: 4 | Page No: 253-258
Prevalence of Under Nutrition and Its Risk Factors among Children below Two Years of Age in a Tertiary Health Centre in West Bengal
Author:
Sukes Das1, Tanmoy Mukherjee2, Sajib Chakraborty3, Nivedita Das4
Affiliation:
1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal
2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Coochbehar Govt Medical College, Coochbehar, West Bengal
3Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal
4Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal
Abstract:
Background: Malnutrition in under five children is prevalent widely. It affects growth as well as development; also causes higher morbidity and mortality among children significantly. This public health problem is multi-factorial. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of under nutrition and its risk fac-tors among children up to 2 years of age attending a tertiary health care institution of Kolkata.
Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 0 – 23 months, at-tending the immunization clinic of CMSDH, Kolkata, during December, 2019 –January, 2020. Data were col-lected by interviewing the accompanying caregivers, anthropometric measurements of the study subjects and review of records.
Results: Among 135 children studied, the prevalence of stunting was 14.1% (5.8% severely stunted), underweight was 9.7% (3.8% severely underweight), wasting was 18.5% (8.1% were SAM). Younger age group (0-6 months), boys and children having inappropriate feeding for age were at increased risk of under nutrition. Children having working mothers, birth spacing of <3 years, LBW and delayed initiation of breastfeeding (>1hour) were at higher risk of stunting and underweight. Incorrect age of introduction of complementary feeding had higher risk of wasting.
Conclusion: Several risk factors for malnutrition were found which are amenable to prevention.
Keywords: Children aged 0-23 months, under nutrition, Risk factors
DOI: 10.55489/njcm.1342022440
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