A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of Acute and Chronic malnutrition among children in the under- five children in a Chennai based population

Dr. Christina Mary P Paul; Dr. G.Y.Mythili; Dr.  Veena Paul V.S; Dr. K.K.Duttagupta; Dr.K.Loganthan; Dr P.A.Archana Lakshmi

Volume : V, Issue : XI, November - 2016

A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of Acute and Chronic malnutrition among children in the under- five children in a Chennai based population

Dr. Christina Mary P Paul, Dr. G. Y. Mythili, Dr. Veena Paul V. S, Dr. K. K. Duttagupta, Dr. K. Loganthan, Dr P. A. Archana Lakshmi

Abstract :

Background: Malnutrition is a major cause for morbidity and mortality among the under – five age group children but is not given due importance because of the lack of awareness of its manifold implications. Malnutrition is a public health emergency. Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted in the Urba n and Rural field practice areas of A.C.S. Medical College among 300 under – five children selected by simple random sampling. Weight and height of the child were measured after the interview schedules were filled. WHO reference values for weight for age – 2 S.D and height for age – 2 S.D were used for defining acute and chronic malnutrition respectively Results: The prevalence of acute malnutrition was found to be 30% with 95% C.I of (24.81 -35.19), and the prevalence of chronic malnutrition was found to be 33.6% with 95% C.I of (28.26-38.94). Both acute and chronic malnutrition were more frequently seen among children in the urban area and among children with birth-weights ≥ 2.5Kg and this association was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: The high prevalence of malnutrition necessitates the need to focus on that aspect of public health. Health education to the parents and the immediate family on the importance of nutrition and on the health hazards of malnutrition could go a long way in reducing the prevalence of malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition especially (stunting) can go unnoticed for years because the child just looks proportionately small for his age and doesn�t look obviously malnourished. Focus is needed particularly on Low birth weight children as they are at a higher risk of being malnourished