AETIOLOGICAL FACTORS OF GRADE-III PROTEIN-CALORIE MALNUTRITION AMONG ADMITTED CHILDREN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Aetiological factors of Protein-Calorie-Malnutrition (PCM) in underdeveloped countries are an established fact. An increase in number of children with grade-III PCM secondary to myriad of reasons has been noted recently. This study aimed to recognize the aetiological factors of grade-III PCM among admitted patients of grade-III PCM in Ayub teaching hospital Abbottabad. Methods: Severe acutely malnourished (SAM) children 6?60 months of age were selected following non probability random sampling technique. The chosen patients were selected according to WHO criteria of PCM grade-III. Primary data was collected from patients admitted to inpatient facility, on a questionnaire from patients whose anthropometric measurements fell under the criteria of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) by WHO during their hospital stay. Results: Higher number of SAM children was due to reversible aetiological factors like inaccessible food, inadequate breast-feeding and weaning practices, and improper food choices for weaning, illiteracy, ignorance, poor sanitation and large family sizes that led to SAM. From 100 patients (52 males), primary malnutrition was the most common cause for grade -III PCM present in 45 patients (23 females). Conclusion: Primary malnutrition was the main aetiological factor for grade-III PCM, more common among females, perhaps due to cultural issues in our region. It was also the main contributing cause in the toddler age group. Pak J Physiol 2023;19(4):39–41