A Study of Morbidity And Nutritional Profile Among Under Five Children in An Urban Slum, Kolkata

Abstract

Child health is prime concern of any country. Under five age morbidity profile has a far reaching consequence on future development of country. Malnutrition is the one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children of under five in developing countries The Objectives of the present study were to evaluate the morbidity profile of under-5children in urban slum in Kolkata and to identify the risk factors associated with it. It was a cross-sectional, population based, descriptive study conducted in urban slums of Rajabajar, Kolkata. Total 122 under 5 children of both sex were studied during the 3 month study period (Dec 2013- Feb 2014). Among the 122 under 5 children 54.1% was male sex. Prevalence of under-five morbidity was 52.45% among children aged 1 to 5 yrs of urban slum of Rajabazar, Kolkata. Acute respiratory infection was most common (51.56) followed by loose stool (15.62%).Prevalence of malnutrition was 23.77 %. Children were mostly from lower socio-economic class (class V)- 59%.Immunisation status was up to date among 84.4% children. Keywords: ICD 10 code, morbidity, nutritional status, slum, under-5children (3) Most of the childhood illnesses are caused by acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malaria, malnutrition or a combination of these conditions (4). Each year 27 million children born in India.10% of them do not survive up to 5 years. India contributes 25% of over 6.9 million under 5 death world wise every year. under- 5 mortality rate in 2012 was 56/1000 live birth. Infant mortality rate 41 per thousand live birth in 2012.Prevalence of morbidity is about 42% to 48%. (5) With this background we carried our study in an urban slum. The Objectives of our study were to evaluate the morbidity profile of under-5children in urban slum in Kolkata and to identify the risk factors associated with it.