Nutritional Status of School Age Children in Urban Slum Area in Vijayawada and Guntur
Published: April 1, 2020 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2020/43114.13611
Vaishnaw Twinkle, MC Das, V Prem Kumar
1. MBBS Student, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2. Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3. Tutor, Department of Pharmacology, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Correspondence
MC Das,
NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: drmcdas19@gmail.com
Introduction: Nutritional deficiency may result in adverse health consequences. Socio-cultural practices, financial condition, awareness of parents and local factors influence the nutritional status. Malnutrition is one of the leading health issues in India. Aim: To assess the nutritional status of school age children and the influence of socioeconomic status on nutrition.
Materials and Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 208 numbers of school children (4-14 years) in Guntur and Vijayawada slum areas during July and August 2018. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect anthropometric and general data. Anthropometric measurements such as weight in Kg and height in cm were recorded. Chi-square test, unpaired t-test and Multivariate analysis were used to assess nutritional status at 5% level of significance.
Results: The prevalence of stunted children (low height for age), Wasted children (low BMI for age) were 46.63% and 48.08%, respectively. The percentage of children with underweight (low weight for age), overweight (high BMI for age) were 68.27% and 4.80%, respectively. 53.85% underweight children belonged to lower socioeconomic status. No difference in prevalence was observed among boys and girls for stunting and underweight (p>0.05). The mean heights of normal and stunted children were significantly different (p<0.01). The mean weights of normal and underweight were significantly different (p<0.01). The mean BMIs of normal and wasted children were significantly different (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Both boys and girls had equal prevalence of malnutrition. Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were more than that of national prevalence. Underweight are significantly high in low socio-economic status and nuclear family.
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