A cross-sectional study - Assessment of nutritional status and associated factors among under 5-year urban slum children.

Abstract

Background: Childhood is the most vulnerable phase in the life of a human being. Nutritional insufficiency during this period of life results in growth faltering. In India as per NFHS-5 (2019-21), 35.5% of the children below 5 years of age are stunted, 32.1% are underweight and 19.3% are wasted. Anthropometric assessment is routinely used and often regarded as the best single measure for health and nutritional status in children. This study aims to find the association between various factors and nutritional status of under 5-year children.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban slums (Sular) of Patiala city. House to house survey was conducted. Three hundred and fifty children were included in the study. Socio-demographic profile, biological factors, child feeding practices and anthropometric measurements of the children were recorded and associations were analyzed using chi square test.

Results: 48.86% children were of 1^st birth order. Only 38% of children were breastfed within 1 hour of birth. Complementary feeding at the age of 6 months was started in 37.14% children. 18.29% children had birth weight less than 2.5 kg. Presence of Exclusive breastfeeding, higher maternal educational status and higher socio-economic status of family were found to be significantly associated with the nutritional status of children (underweight, χ² = 66.822, df = 1, P value 0.001; χ² = 3.450, df = 1, P value 0.05; χ² = 7.185, df = 2, P value 0.027 respectively).

Conclusion: Presence of exclusive breast feeding, higher educational qualification of mother and the higher socio- economic status are the positive influencers and protect the children against malnutrition.