Assessment of Nutritional Status of under Five Children attending outpatient department at a tertiary Care Hospital: a study from North India

Abstract

The nutrition status is always neglected issue of public health. The high prevalence of malnutrition in NFHS data gives alarm to work for the children who are future of our country. Objectives: To study the nutritional status of children attending pediatric OPD at tertiary level hospital by anthropometric measurements and to know the health status of these children and their relation with nutritional status. Methods: The nutritional profile of children of age group 0-5 years attending Paediatric OPD was studied. Total 1000 under five children were enrolled in the study. Equal numbers of children were taken in all the age groups 0-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-3years, 3-4 years and 4-5 years. Results: As per WHO growth standards, 41.9%, 47.2%, 18.9% of children had underweight, stunted and wasting, respectively. Total malnutrition prevalence was 66.4%. As per MUAC, 51% children were having mild to moderate malnutrition whereas 2.2% children had severe malnutrition. Immunization status was also assessed. Conclusion: Malnutrition is more in girls compared to boys. Malnutrition was more prevalent in 12--‐60 months age group children and was found statistically significant. Reduction of malnutrition can be ensured by availability of supplementary feeds.  Keywords: Malnutrition, Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference, Wasting, Stunting.