Predictors of anthropometric failure among under five slum children of Jammu, India

Abstract

Background: Under nutrition continues to be a major public health problem in India despite years of efforts and huge resources invested to tackle the situation. Accurate assessment of the magnitude is important for allocation of resources and monitoring of trends. Of the various measures recommended, Composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) provides the burden of under nutrition in a single measure and helps in detection of children with multiple anthropometric failures in community. Research with simultaneous use of Z scores and CIAF in under nutrition is limited. Methods: This cross-sectional community based study was done in urban slums to determine the prevalence of under-nutrition and its determinants using Z Scores and CIAF. 250 under five children registered with eight randomly selected anganwadis from urban slums Jammu, J&K, India were studied. Results: Of 250 children studied, 183 (73.2%) were suffering from under-nutrition (one or the other form of anthropometric failure)according to CIAF. 38.8%, 20.4% and 42.8% under-fives were classified as underweight, wasted and stunted respectively by conventional indices. Morbidity, age at weaning and children with more than three siblings were found independent predictors of anthropometric failure on multivariate logistic regression. Conclusions: CIAF seems to provide an accurate reflection of under-nutrition than the currently used weight-for-age Z score. The study underscores the importance of appropriate physical environment and proper infant and child feeding practices in prevention of under nutrition.