Study of nutritional and immunization status in children 6 months to 3 years attending outpatient department at a tertiary care hospital in rural South Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Background: Good nutrition, particularly in the first three years of life, is important in establishing and maintaining a good foundation that has implications on a child’s future physical and mental health. The present study has been undertaken to study the “Impact of the nutritional and immunization services on the children between 6 months to 3 years,” with special emphasis to identify moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases.Methods: This observational study was conducted from August 2017 to July 2018 in department of paediatrics at pacific institute of medical science included 400 cases age between 6 months to 3 years.Results: Incidence of SAM and MAM is 7.5% and 30.75 % respectively. Female predominance was seen in SAM and MAM i.e. 53.4% and 54.6% respectively. Significant association of under-nutrition was found with LBW (p<0.05), not giving exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months of life (p<0.05) and, Low socioeconomic status (p<0.001). Higher numbers of females were unvaccinated.Conclusions: Despite introduction of various national programs at different levels for improvement of maternal and child health, we still have significant number of children who are undernourished and unimmunized. Children are future of our nation and their health is of paramount importance. It can only be achieved with strong political will, active participation of community and by increase commitment of health care professionals. We need to start from birth, institutional delivery, exclusive breast feeding, immunization, and timely introduction of complementary feeds, marriages at appropriate age, proper antenatal visits and birth spacing.