Influence of mothers′ chronic energy deficiency on the nutritional status of preschool children in Empowered Action Group states in India

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition not only blights the lives of individuals and families, but also acts as a major barrier to social and economic progress In India, particularly in the EAG states. Under this backdrop, this study aims to assess degree of chronic energy deficiency and its determinants and to investigate the impact of low BMI of women on children's health status. Materials and Methods: Data drawn from the National Family Health Survey-III, conducted 2005-06, from Empowered Action Group (EGA) states. A multiple linear regression analysis was done to see the relation between CED status of women and different socioeconomic factors and to find out the influence of CED on children's health status. Results: The 20th century witnessed a significant proportion of overweight and obese individuals coexist with the undernourished in many developing countries however the EAG states experiencing high prevalence of under-nutrition (34percent) and low incidence of overweight (13percent). Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh reported significantly higher profession of chronic energy deficiency than the rest of the EAG states. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analyses show that age of women, place of residence, caste, women's education, and wealth index are significantly associated with underweight. The chronic energy deficiency women produce more number of anaemic children than the counterparts. Around forty percent of the low weight babies are born to the chronic energy deficit women. Conclusion: The burden of chronic energy deficiency indicates that there is a need for special public health programs that are able to address chronic energy deficiency.