Study of factors affecting nutritional status of children aged 1-5 years attending a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometric measures are clinical tools that help to identify the nutritional status of a child. Poor nutritional status of a child might be due to poor diet or due to repeated childhood infections. Objective: This study was done to find the correlation between anthropometric measures with nutritional history and acute infec-tious disease rate in children aged 1-5 years. Methods: 100 children between age 1-5 years old attending the pediatric OPD were enrolled. Information was collected in a semi-structured questionnaire. Detailed history regarding the antenatal factors, birth weight, and breast-feeding, the nutritional history of the child was obtained. Sickness like diarrhoea and lower respiratory tract infection incidence in the past year were documented. The anthropometry measures noted and HAZ, WAZ scores and Weight for length/height were plotted in WHO charts. Stunting, underweight and wasting were inferred from the charts based on the WHO definition. The collected data were analysed with sigma plot 13(system software, USA). Results: Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was practised by 77% of mothers. The total duration of breastfeeding and consumption of eggs have a statistically significant effect on anthropometry. Conclusion: Longer duration of breastfeeding has a positive effect on anthropometry. Consumption of eggs increases the chances of a child being of normal height.