A Cross Sectional Study on Prevalence of Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutritional Status Among Children Under 5-Years of Age In Kushtia, Bangladesh

Abstract

Children under 5 years old are most vulnerable and high risk group who need special health care services. Be-cause infectious diseases, diarrhea, malnutrition etc are very common in this group. This study was carried out among the total of 400 children in Kushtia from January 2008 to December 2008 and observed the prevalence of diarrhoea among them. A cross sectional survey was carried out to determine nutritional status of under-5years children by anthropometric measurement, MUAC measurement and bio-chemical assessment. Anthropometric measurements were performed by standard methods National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the United States. Amongst all the children higher proportion of children 47% were found to be malnourished (under weight) using W/A as indicator in the age range of 0-60 months. Amongst all the subjects’ prevalence of wasting and stunting was 51% and 49% respectively. Age group 0-12 months shows the highest prevalence of wasting, under weight and stunting. The prevalence of diarrhoea was found 44.5%. The maximum prevalence (48.86%) and frequency (1.7) of diarrhoea was present in 12-24 months of age. Factors that influence malnutrition and frequency of diarrhea were limited access to sanitation facilities, unhygienic water drinking and handling, mother’s education, misconception about food, infectious diseases and weaning practices. These results suggested that improving nutritional status of urban poor requires direct, focused and integrated strategies that are preferably community based and involve the behavior modification by education in addition to providing comprehensive preventive and curative health and nutritional services.