Prevalence of Undernutrition among Baalwadi Going Children between 2-5 Years of Age in Western Mumbai

Abstract

Children are the backbone of any country. Under nutrition is the underlying cause of more than half of all deaths in children aged less than five years worldwide. This study was designed majorly to study the prevalence of undernutrition in children. The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of undernutrition; stunting, underweight and wasting in children between 2-5 years of age and to analyse major determinants influencing undernutrition. 102 children aged between 2-5 years of age were selected from two different baalwadis of Mumbai through purposive, random sampling. Sociodemographic data was collected using a self-designed, structured questionnaire from mothers. Anthropometric measurements like weight, height, MUAC were done to determine nutritional status. Anthropometric data revealed that out of total children screened (n=102), 34% children were well-nourished and 66% children were undernourished; where 27 children were underweight, 24 were wasted 16 were stunted. 55 children had low MUAC. The factors that were found to be significantly associated with child undernutrition were age (p=0.046), gender (p=0.000), maternal education (p=0.007), employment status of mother (p=0.001) and number of meals taken by the child daily (p=0.000). The prevalence of undernutrition among children of Baalwadi was high considering the sample size was small.