Maternal Education, Reported Morbidity and Number of Siblings are Associated with Malnutrition among Lodha Preschool Children of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition among tribal preschool children is highly prevalent in almost all states of India and is the predisposing factor for morbidity as well as mortality. Objectives: Aim of the study was to detect prevalence of malnutrition and their associated factors. Study design: A cross sectional study. Study subjects: Lodha tribal children aged 1-5 years. Sample size: A total of 141 children were included in the present study. Data collection: Data was collected in pre-structured questionnaire, which included household socio-demographic data, morbidity status of child and anthropometric measurements like height, weight. Results: The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the form of underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight was 40.4%, 29.8%, 34.0%, 5.0%, respectively. According to the WHO classification of severity of malnutrition, the overall prevalence of underweight and wasting was very high, indicating a critical situation. The reported morbidity was 20.6% and majority of children suffered from diarrhoea (7.8%). The results revealed that morbidity status, number of sibling, mother literacy status had significant association on underweight More importantly; rate of underweight was significantly higher among children who had reported morbidity, no of sibs 3 and above and or illiterate mothers. They had 3.7, 2.15 and 2.81 times greater risk of being underweight. Similarly, children having morbidity had more than 3 times greater chance of developing wasting. Conclusion: The Lodha pre-school children were suffering from nutritional stress which was associated with reported morbidity, mother’s lack of education and high number of siblings.