Determinants of malnutrition among under five children: A cross sectional study in urban Belgaum, India

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition has become the most common nutritional disorder, and it is one of the main reasons for under-five mortality and morbidity worldwide. In India itself, more than one-third of the global malnourished children are existing. More than half of the children below 3 years are considered underweight among these. It is considered one of the most burning issues, and the common effect of malnutrition is in the form of late physical growth and intellectual development. The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of malnutrition among under-five children. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study with a key informant interview to identify the determinant factors of malnutrition. Four hundred and sixty children with their mothers were participated in the study. Odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to identify the determinants of malnutrition among under-five children using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 460 children, more than half of the children, 249 (54.13%), was malnourished. Of these 249 children, 142 were female, while 107 were male. Mother's age, religion, family size, and family income were significantly associated with malnutrition (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition was higher in female children than male children, and a proper girl child care and educating the mothers regarding the importance of nutrition for their children help overcome the malnutrition problem in our locality.