A study on nutritional status of Anganwadi children in a rural area of North Kerala

Objective Malnutrition in children pervades all aspects of their health, growth, cognitive and social development and can lead to irreversible and lifelong effects. We examine the prevalence and determinants of malnutrition in children under 5 in the Ghanaian population. Methods Using data from the latest available Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), we estimated and compared prevalence of malnutrition in children among the different subgroups of the population. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify potential factors associated with childhood malnutrition in Ghana. Results Overall, 35.6 % (95 % CI: 33.6, 37.6) of Ghanaian children under 5 years of age suffer from some form of malnutrition. Specifically, 27.5 % (95 % CI: 25.1, 28.7), 13.8 % (95 % CI: 12.5, 15.3), 8.9 % (95 % CI: 7.8, 10.2) were stunted, underweight and wasted, respectively. Results from the logistic regression indicate that gender and age of the child, educational and nutritional status of the mother, and financial status of the household are risk factors associated with childhood malnutrition in Ghana. Conclusions for Practice In view of the observed high rate of malnutrition among Ghanaian children despite the interventions that have been in place since the 1990s, there is a need for increased awareness and improved targeted interventions as well as knowledge translation tools including extensive education on infant and young child feeding practices.

Child malnutrition is the main contributor to the disease burden in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and trends of child malnutrition and maternal anemia in Ethiopia at the national and regional state levels between 1990 and 2019. We used all accessible data sources and analyzed prevalence, death, and years of life lost (YLL) due to child malnutrition and maternal anemia across nine regions and two chartered cities in Ethiopia, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. The burden and trends of child and maternal malnutrition and anemia at the national level, across the regions, and in cities were assessed. Point estimates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) are presented. Of the 190,173 total under-5 deaths in Ethiopia in 2019, 108,864 (95% UI: 83,544-141,718; 57·2%, 51·3-62·7) were attributed to malnutrition. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 37·0%, 27·0%, and 7·0%, respectively, in 2019. The YLL rate attributable to child malnutrition declined from 251,964 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 218,720-287,559) in 1990 to 57,615 (95% UI: 44,190-75,015) in 2019. The YLL rate of wasting, stunting, and underweight in Ethiopia was 18,566 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 12,950-26,123), 3,290 (95% UI: 1,443-5,856), and 5,240 (95% UI: 3,608-7,312) in 2019, respectively. Gambella showed the highest YLL rate reduction among regions, with a 98·2% change for stunting, 95·9% for wasting, and 97·9% for underweight between 1990 and 2019. The prevalence of anemia among under-5 children in Ethiopia was 62·0% (95% UI: 59·1%-65·1%) in 2019. Somali has the highest child anemia prevalence, 84·4% (95% UI: 79·8%-88·8%), compared to others in 2019. The prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Ethiopia was 20·4% (95% UI: 19·0%-21·8%) in 2019. The prevalence of child malnutrition and maternal anemia in Ethiopia remains high compared to national, WHO, and UNICEF 2030 targets in all indicators of child malnutrition and anemia despite several interventions in the last three decades. The YLL rate due to child malnutrition was high, with regional variations. In conjunction with other sectors, especially agriculture, the National Nutrition Program and other nutrition initiatives must make greater efforts with short-term and long-term interventions to improve access and better nutrition.

Risk Factors for Child Malnutrition in Bangladesh: A Multilevel Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Survey

BackgroundChildren with congenital heart disease are at risk for poor growth and under-nutrition compared with healthy children. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of children with congenital heart disease and associated factors in selected governmental hospitals and cardiac center Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodInstitutional based cross sectional study among 373 children aged under15 years was conducted from February to March; 2021G.c. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and chart review. Z-scores based on WHO reference ranges were used. Anthropometric z-scores based on WHO 2007 reference ranges were generated for each child. Weight-for-age z-scores for children 0–10 years and height-for-age and BMI-for-age z-scores for all children. Binary logistic regression was used for associated factors.ResultA total of 373 children were participated in this study. The prevalence of wasting and stunting was 144(38.6%) and 134(35.9%) respectively. The prevalence of underweight and malnutrition in children under 10 years was 143(43.1%). Most of the children were diagnosed with VSD (36.7%). Children age group of 13 months-5 years were associated with wasting and underweight [AOR = 0.434, 95%CI: (0.231, 0.816)] and [AOR = 0.360, 95%CI: (0.183, 0.711)] respectively. Children diagnosed with PAH were 1.885 times more likely to be underweight [AOR = 1.885, 95%CI: (1.094, 3.246)]. When the hemoglobin level increases by every unit per g/dl the chance to be wasting and underweight decreases by 13.1 and 18.6%[AOR = 0.869, 95%CI: (0.792, 0.955)] and [AOR = 0.869, 95%CI: (0.792, 0.955)] respectively. The level of SPO2 is associated with stunting and underweight [AOR = 0.970, 95%CI: (0.943, 0.998)] and [AOR = 0.970, 95%CI: (0.943, 0.998)] respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of malnutrition in children with CHD is pretty high. Decreased level of hemoglobin and SPO2 was found to be associated factors for malnutrition in this case. There need to be a new strategy about including different health professional while care giving.

The nutrition transition, supermarkets, and nutritional outcomes in developing countries

The study includes two main groups; the first group consists of (90) during delivery women, while the second consists of (90) new born children. The two groups are divided into other subgroups depending on whether they are anemic and non anemic. The first group contains (66) anemic women and (24) non anemic women, While the second group contains (23) anemic newborn and (67) non anemic new born. Total levels of protein and cholesterol have been checked in the subgroups in addition to the effect of anemia on these variables and the changes in total cholesterol and protein levels in regard to weight of the newly born. Variations of these variables depending on sex in the subgroups of newly born have also been checked. The study has revealed that total levels of cholesterol in during delivery anemic women were significantly high in comparison with their levels in non anemic women, their rates range (186 ±18.51) and (163±23.54) mg/dl for each of the two groups, respectively. Moreover, total protein levels were higher in non anemic women than in anemic women ranging (6.97±0.76) and (6.16±0.6) gm/dl, respectively (p < 0.05). Total cholesterol levels in anemic newborn were not significantly different from non anemic children, whereas total protein levels in non anemic children were higher compared with anemic children , rates rang (7.59±0.72) and (6.69 ±0.91) respectively(p<0.05). As for the relationship between the sex of the child and the studied biochemical variables in the sub groups, child sex had no effect on total cholesterol levels, whereas total protein levels varied; Differences were significant between male and female anemic children, while differences were not significant between male and female non anemic children. Also differences were significant between anemic and non anemic male children, whereas they were significant between anemic and non anemic female children (p<0.05). The study has also shown that weights of non anemic children were higher in comparison with anemic children, they were (3.4±0.38) and (3.02±0.47) respectively (p<0.05). Differences in weight between female and male anemic children were not significant; also they were not significant in male and female non anemic children. Differences in weight between anemic and non anemic children were significant; also they were significant between anemic and non anemic female children. There was a difference in the relationship between weights of anemic and non anemic children and total levels of protein and cholesterol in female and male children. In non anemic children, the relationship between total protein levels and the weight of male and female children was slightly significant (r= 0.357), while it was not significant in terms of total cholesterol levels with weights of female and male children. There was a reversible relationship between total protein levels in anemic male children and their weights (r=-0.448), while in female children the relationship was slightly significant(r=0.313). Total cholesterol levels in anemic male children had a high significant relationship (r=0.914) with their weight, while it was not significant in anemic female children.

The physical growth of children under 5 years of age was studied in relation to patterns of nutrition, morbidity, and health care utilization in three remote villages of tropical Ecuador. Age-specific comparisons of height and weight to growth curves from reference populations (US National Child Health Survey) indicated moderate to severe stunting in the population of male and female children. Examination of height-weight relationships as a measure of recent nutritional status provided little evidence that male children were underweight for their height. However, the observation that female children fell between the 3rd and 50th centile channels of the reference population in their height-weight relationship suggested moderate wasting in addition to substantial stunting. Endemic parasitism and a high rate of diarrheal illnesses were detected in the study population and were likely contributing agents to the stunting observed in male and female children. No dichotomy in the incidence of diarrhea was detected between male and female children, and if the episode was mild it was typical not to treat the illness, regardless of sex. In more severe cases, female children were more frequently taken to traditional healers. However, when familial self-treatment or local clinics were used, male children were more likely to be the beneficiary. Thus it seems possible that this advantage, along with the cultural practice of investing more of the family's resources in male children, may be responsible for the wasting detected in young females. Tropical conditions, chronic undernutrition, compromised cellular immunity, and inadequate health care services were likely causes of the high morbidity and mortality of children under age 5. Community-based programs of health promotion and disease prevention appear to offer the best potential as intervention strategies in these villages.

Despite significant progress, childhood undernutrition remains a critical public health challenge in Morocco, impacting child development and well-being. This study examines the drivers behind the reduction in undernutrition between 2003 and 2018, employing multilevel logistic regression and Fairlie decomposition analysis to assess the influence of socioeconomic, demographic, and contextual factors. Using data from the 2003–2004 and 2018 National Survey on Population and Family Health (NSPFH), the findings underscore the pivotal roles of improved maternal education, enhanced child healthcare access, and better household living conditions, including access to clean water and sanitation. However, rural areas lag significantly behind their urban counterparts, highlighting persistent regional disparities that demand urgent attention. These results underline the critical need for targeted interventions to advance maternal education, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and prioritize rural development. This study highlights past achievements by aligning with long-term development objectives and global health initiatives. It provides actionable insights to sustain and accelerate reductions in childhood undernutrition in Morocco.

Background: Child malnutrition has been a major social problem in South Asia. Throughout the twentieth century, with aid from international food and health-related agencies and through government interventions, there has been a reduction in child malnutrition in this region. However, South Asia is burdened with a high prevalence of malnourished children in the world. About one hundred million children suffer from malnutrition-related issues. The present study has attempted to assess the conditions of child malnutrition in South Asia. Materials and Methods: The present study is based on secondary data from various sources such as the World Bank, WHO, and UNICEF databases. The study is categorized into three sections. The first section lays out the malnutrition trends in South Asia. It highlights the data on how the Stunting, Wasting, and obesity problems are changing in South Asia from 2000 to the present. The second section outlines the causes of child malnutrition in South Asia. It will focus on determinants of child malnutrition, mother’s literacy, family income, and social inequities. The third section elaborates on the United Nations (UN) system interventions. Results: There has been a consistent reduction in the prevalence of child malnutrition from the twentieth century to the twenty-first century; however, there is still a significant number of children and women under malnutrition; there is a demand for optimal nutrition at every stage of life. The effects of malnutrition are associated with less development physical and psychological; there is a risk even to the life of the child; it is also associated with the socio-economic development of the child. Thus, it affects the child’s future and the nation’s future. Conclusion: Finally, the paper concludes by recommending greater synergy among the food system, water and sanitation system, health system, education system, and social protection system.

IntroductionChildhood malnutrition is a complex issue with a range of contributing factors. The consequences of malnutrition are severe, particularly for children. This study aims to identify the factors contributing to inequality gaps in childhood malnutrition. Our study provides insights into modifiable elements to inform interventions targeted at distinct contexts and populations to improve child nutrition.MethodsThis study utilized data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 27 countries. First, the risk differences (RDs) between the prevalence of childhood malnutrition among the determinant variables, household income, and maternal education categories were calculated. The Blinder‒Oaxaca decomposition was subsequently used to determine the extent to which the difference in childhood malnutrition prevalence between low-income and high-income groups and maternal education levels results from the contributory effects of the explanatory variables: child and maternal individual-level compositional factors.ResultsWe examined data from 138,782 children in 27 countries from 2015 to 2020. The prevalence of childhood malnutrition (10.5%) varied across countries, ranging from 6.5% in Burundi to 29.5% in Timor Leste. On average, the prevalence of childhood malnutrition was 11.0% in low-income households and 10.7% among mothers without education. Some nations had pro-low-income (i.e., malnutrition concentrated among children from poor households) or pro-no-maternal education (i.e., malnutrition concentrated among children from mothers with no formal education) inequality in childhood malnutrition, but most did not. We found a complex interplay of compositional effects, such as the child’s age, maternal education, maternal health behavior, and place of residence, that influence the inequality in childhood malnutrition rates across 10 pro-low-income countries. In addition, we also found that a complex mix of compositional effects, such as the household wealth index, maternal health behavior, and maternal age, contribute to childhood malnutrition inequality between educated and uneducated mothers across the 7 pro-no maternal education countries.ConclusionThe prevalence of childhood malnutrition varies among low-income, high-income, and no maternal education-maternal education groups. This study highlights the need for a country-specific approach to addressing childhood malnutrition, with policies and interventions tailored to each country’s specific context.

This very important study examined the prevalence of malnutrition in children in Dutch hospitals. Malnutrition includes disorders of nutrition status resulting from a defi ciency of nutrient intake, impaired nutrient...

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar los factores relacionados a la prevalencia de la desnutrición de niños menores de 3 años de la provincia de Huánuco. Fue un estudio observacional, prospectivo, transversal, analítico y correlacional; con una muestra aleatoria de 234 niños, a quienes se les aplicó fichas de valoración y a sus madres un cuestionario de factores; previamente validados y fiabilizados, según consideraciones éticas. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo e inferencial mediante la prueba Chi cuadrada de Pearson, y la prueba multinomial, para un p ≤ 0,05, apoyados en el SPSS V22. Se encontró relación significativa entre diferentes factores: desconocimiento de la madre del número de raciones que debe consumir el niño a partir del sexto mes, la inaccesibilidad económica para el abastecimiento de alimentos, la rotación de cultivos agrícolas tradicionales por comerciales ineficaces, el bajo peso al nacer (p&lt;0,05), entre otros. En el análisis multivariado: la rotación de cultivos tradicionales por comerciales ineficaces, el niño con bajo peso al nacer y la deficiente calidad de los servicios materno-infantiles, aumentaron la probabilidad de tener desnutrición. Concluyendo que la desnutrición en niños menores de 3 años en estudio, está relacionada a factores económicos, ambientales, culturales, biológicos e institucionales.

Background: The pre-school age groups (2-5years) were evaluated for growth and nutritional status at immunization clinic at Maharana Bhoopal hospital, Udaipur. Objectives: To study the malnutrition in pre-school children. Material & Methods: The cross sectional study had been carried out between august 2013 to November 2013 with 1080children at immunization clinic Maharana Bhoopal Hospital Udaipur. Body weight, height were recorded including with age, gender and also education and occupation and socio-economic status of mother by interviewing the mother at the time they attended the immunization clinic and by the help of MAMTA CARD. Result: The age and sex distribution of 1080 examined children revealed that 52.8% were males while 47.2% were females. The malnutrition in the subjects was determined as per World Health Organization child growth standards [1]. Data reveals that 4.2% of male children, 4.1% of female children were severely stunted and 10.7% of male children, 11.2% of female children were stunted. Whereas 3.1% of male children, 4.7% of female children were found to be severely wasted and 11.4% of male children, 12.3% of female children were wasted. Also found that 7.5% of male children, 7.6% of female children were overweight and 1.9% of male children, 1.0% of female children were obese. Conclusion: There is need of more education about nutrition and dietary habits to population including proper antenatal and postnatal care of mother to decrease the prevalence of malnutrition in children. Keywords: Children, Malnutrition, WHO child growth standards

Background: High economic growth in India in the last two decades has unfortunately not been translated into satisfactory progress on reducing hunger and malnutrition. The study aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in children from 6 months to five years of age, to find out the socio-demographic, environmental and other factors associated with acute malnutrition and to suggest appropriate recommendations based on observations.Methods: The area selected for the study is the rural field practice area of Topiwala National Medical College. The study population taken for this was children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years. The study was a community based descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study.Results: In the study area, 56.30% children were underweight, 52.96% were stunted and 27.8% were wasted. Majority of the children (96.7%) in this area were Hindu. Majority of the children belong to class IV of socioeconomic class (Modified B.G.Prasad). Maximum children (28.15%) were in the age group of 25 to 36 months. 67.78% children were living in joint families. About 79% mothers were literate at least up to primary education.Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition among all 3 forms i. e underweight, stunting, wasting was slightly more among male children as compared to females, and this can be taken as a positive sign for female child. The literacy rate was quite satisfactory; the diet of children was inadequate for calories and proteins as well as micronutrients.

The study was carried out to discover the relationship between the performance characteristics (20 m. running, vertical jump, standing long jump, ball throwing, shuttle run) and the body mass index of 8-10 year-old school children. 3772 children (1995 male and 1777 female) aged 8-10 from Ankara participated in the study voluntarily. To measure the height of the children a stadiometer with ± 1mm graduation (Holtain, UK) and to measure their weight a stand art medical scale with ± 0.1kg readability were used. After the height and weight measurements, body mass indexes (BMI) of the children were calculated. Then, 20 m. running, vertical jump, standing long jump, ball throwing, shuttle run tests were applied to the children. To compare the mean values and to determine the differences between the groups T Test was applied and statistical correlation analysis was done to study the relationship between the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the Performance Characteristics(20 m. running, vertical jump, standing long jump, ball throwing, shuttle run). A statistically meaningful difference was defined between the female and the male participants when their mean points in body weight and height, body mass index, vertical jump, standing long jump, 20 m. run, ball throwing, and shuttle run(p<0.05) compared. In this comparison, while the average points of the male children in body weight and height, body mass index, vertical jump, standing long jump, ball throwing, and shuttle run were higher, their average points in 20 m. run were lower than the female children. It was observed that there was a relationship at a meaningful level and with a negative tendency between the points of body mass index of the male and female children and their vertical jump(r=-0.046, p<0.01), and standing long jump(r=-0.046, p<0.01) and shuttle run points(r= -0.229, p< 0.01). As to the relationship between the body mass index and 20 m run(r= 0.094, p< 0.01) and ball throwing (r= 0.286, p< 0.01), it was meaningful with a positive tendency. In our study, it was determined that the male children had better results than the female children according to the test results related to the physical characteristics and performance measurements. It has been concluded that the differences found stem from the gender difference and depending upon the environmental and cultural factors at these ages, the male children are thought to have a better development in terms of performance characteristics.