STUDY OF RISK FACTORS OF SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN ADMITTED PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

DR HARSHA MAKWANA; DR NAMRATA GADHVI; DR AKSHAY PATEL

Volume : IX, Issue : I, January - 2020

STUDY OF RISK FACTORS OF SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN ADMITTED PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

Dr Harsha Makwana, Dr Namrata Gadhvi, Dr Akshay Patel

Abstract :

Background : Nearly 80 million children i.e, 65% children under 5years of age suffers from varying degree of malnutrition. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) increases childhood morbidity , mortality and can lead to poor cognitive development. Total growth & development of children is influenced by various environmental, socioeconomic & nutritional factors. OBJECTIVES : This study was conducted to assess various risk factors associated with SAM. MATERIALS AND METHODS : fifty infants and children aged between 6months to 5 years were included in this prospective observational study who were admitted in pediatric ward of tertiary care hospital with SAM. With consent of parents prior to interview by explaining them objectives of study. Proper history regarding all risk factors was taken properly and entered in preformed proforma. Than those data were compiled and analysed. RESULT : SAM was more commonly seen in patients having : age group of 6 months to 2 years , female gender, improper hand washing practice , immunizations unavailability of exclusive east feeding , lower education of mother , poor housing condition , improper complementary feeding practices , higher birth order. CONCLUSION: exclusive east feeding , proper complementary feeding practices, proper birth spacing and family planning , improving sanitation and female education are some of the modifiable risk factors which can be reduce occurrences of SAM.