Health and Nutritional Status of Children (0-6 Years age) in Rural Field Practice Area of Katihar Medical College

Abstract

Introduction: India has a sizeable child population. The 2011 census in the first one in many decades which counted less absolute number of children in the 0-6 years age group compared to 2001 census count of 164 million children, there were 159 million children in 2011. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Katihar Medical College situated around 5 km away from Katihar. A total of 600 under six children were approached for conducting the present study, of which 592 were interviewed and selected for the study. Results: Out of 592 children 216 (36.4%) children were exclusively breast feed. Further it was observed that majority i.e. 137 (63.43%) of the children were normal in whom exclusive breast feeding was practiced. It was observed that out of the 548 fully immunized for age children a maximum i.e. 288 (52.55%) were normal. Maximum i.e. 11 (73.33 %) of the unimmunized children were under nutrition. Majority of the children were less than 24 months of age, number of female children were slightly higher than male children. Majority of the children were Muslims followed by Hindus and only one child was Christian. Maximum number of children belonged to class IV followed by class III socio-economic class, according to modified Kuppuswamy classification. Discussion: According to occupation of the father and nutritional status. Majority of the fathers were involved in unskilled occupation or semiskilled occupation i.e. 356 (60.13%). Unemployed fathers had a higher proportion of under nutrition children 7(58.33%), followed by fathers involved in unskilled /semiskilled work 183(51.4%). Fathers involved in semi-professional/professional occupation had maximum proportion of normal children 7(77.78%). Conclusion: Majority of the children belonged to nuclear type of family. The literacy percentage was slightly higher in fathers than in mothers. Majority of fathers were labourers followed by clerical work or owned .....