Measuring undernutrition by composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF): a community-based study in a slum of Nagpur city

Abstract

Background: In any community, under-five children constitute one of the most vulnerable groups for nutritional deficiencies. The estimation of growth in children is vital for screening health status, identifying divergences from normality, and evaluating the efficiency of interventions. Composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) offers a single number to the overall evaluation of malnourished children in a population, which no other conventional indicators do. Objective: To estimate the overall prevalence of undernutrition among under-five children in an urban slum using CIAF and study some covariates associated with undernutrition. Materials and Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban slum area of Nagpur city. Study subjects were under-five children residing in the slum, and respondents were their mothers. Data collection was done by conducting house-to-house survey, and information was recorded in predesigned pretested questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standard techniques. Overall prevalence of undernutrition was estimated using CIAF. Result: The overall prevalence of undernutrition by CIAF among under-five children in urban slum area was found to be 58.59%. Covariates found to be significantly associated with undernutrition were lower socioeconomic status, illiteracy of mother, low birth weight, birth order, narrow birth interval, exclusive breastfeeding, immunization status, and childhood morbidities. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of undernutrition among under-five children was found to be 58.59%, which was higher than that estimated by conventional measures of undernutrition (underweight, stunting, and wasting). An aggregate and comprehensive measure of the total magnitude of undernutrition such as CIAF is a useful tool to quantify undernutrition, especially to identify children with multiple anthropometric failures.

Composite index of anthropometric failure among under 5 children attending the Immunoprophylaxis clinic in a tertiary care hospital in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

“…et al showed higher rates of composite index of anthropometric failure than compared to the present study. 6,[10][11][12][13][16][17][18]20,[23][24] Further, some studies found similar rates compared to our study. Studies by Bejarano IF et al done in Argentina had very low rates of composite index of anthropometric failure when compared to the present study.…”

“…23 Using this prevalence, with 95% confidence interval and 5% absolute precision the sample size we found was 373. Anticipating a non-response rate of 20%, the final minimum sample size was found to be 448.…”

“…8 Many studies have used this concept in adding up the knowledge of composite index of anthropometric failure in their geographical locations. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] This study will add to the pool of such studies with an objective to study the rates of composite index of anthropometric failure in the children attending the Immunoprophylaxis clinic in a tertiary care hospital of Nagpur and to find associations with the socio demographic variables.…”

Assessment of under nutrition with composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) among under-five children in a rural area of West Bengal, India

“…14 Though the higher rate reported by Gupta et al (62%), Rastogi et al (73.4%) and Dhok et al (58.59%). [15][16][17] In the present study, malnutrition among female children compared to male and Muslim children as compared to Hindus were higher, but the association was found insignificant, similar findings were observed in the study by Singh, et al Uttar Pradesh in northern India. 18 Children from low socioeconomic class were significantly malnourished, and similar findings were reported by various other studies.…”

“…18 Children from low socioeconomic class were significantly malnourished, and similar findings were reported by various other studies. 1,17,18 In the current study, children who were from less educated mother and with more number of siblings were more likely to have anthropometric failure, Shit et al, Purohit et al, Maharashtra also observed similar findings regarding education level of mother and number of siblings in the family. 19,20 In the present study, malnutrition was more among females than males, among Muslims than Hindus, among children of low socioeconomic status groups, among children of less educated mothers and among those children who were not exclusively breastfed.…”