Nutritional Status of Children in Some Selected Slums of Mymensingh Municipality of Bangladesh.

Abstract

Nutritional status of under-five children is a matter of concern worldwide and malnutrition is a one of the most important public health problems in Bangladesh. The slums are particularly at high risk of vulnerability to food insecurity and child malnutrition. The study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of children of slum areas of Mymensingh Municipality of Bangladesh. This descriptive cross sectional observational study was conducted in different slums of Municipality of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh from March 2017 to August 2018 among randomly selected 630 under five children. Data were collected by interviewing and measuring the weight, height, Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). WHO growth reference charts were used to calculate Weight for Age, Height or Length for Age and Weight for Height Z scores. Mean age of 630 children was 29.38±16.23 months, among them 49.7% were male and 50.3% were female. Two hundred and fifteen (34.1%) children were delivered at home, 33.2% delivered at clinic and 32.7% delivered at hospital. Around 14.2% of children had low birth weight. Colostrum was given in 94.1% children. Breast feeding was initiated within 1 hour of birth in 52.7%. Exclusive breast feeding was practiced in 60.6% and prolonged exclusive breast feeding was found in 18.1% of children. Around 63.5% continued breast feeding for 24 months. Complementary feeding was started before 6 months in 39.4%, within 6 to 8 months in 42.5% and late complementary feeding was practiced in 15.4% cases. Mean values for weight and height were found higher in males than females. Frequency of underweight, stunting and wasting was 28.9%, 29.7% and 12.3% respectively. Age group of 12-23 months showed the highest frequency of underweight (33.5%). Wasting (16.0%) and stunting (34.4%) was found more in age group 24-35 months. Frequency of underweight, stunting and wasting was found more in children having male sex, low family income, low birth weight, prelacteal feeding, no colostrum feeding, non-exclusive breast feeding, prolong exclusive breast feeding and early and late complementary feeding practices. Overall under-nutrition was found in 37.9% and 62.1% children were nutritionally normal as they had no underweight, stunting or wasting. Under nutrition is a common problem among slum children.