Socio-demographic correlates of stunting among children in Port Blair, India

Abstract

Background: Stunting or low height-for-age is failure to reach linear growth potential, and is a key indicator of chronic under nutrition. The objectives of the study were to assess the status of stunting among children attending outpatient department and to evaluate the demographic profile of such children.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study conducted over a period 6 months from August 2015 to January 2016 among children within age group of 2 to 12 years attending outpatient department of GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair. Height-for-age z-scores (HFAz) was generated using the WHO Anthro software (version 3.2.2).Results: Overall 444 students’ were included in the study which included 213 male children (48%) and 231 female children (52.0%). Out of this 21.70% children were stunted and 6.3% children were severely stunted. Among the socio demographic factors shunting and severe stunting is seen among lower/upper lower class (82.14%) followed by middle/lower middle class.Conclusions: Collective effort by government, non-government organizations is required to plan long term and short term strategies addressing the risk factors.