Stratification for Risk Factors and Its Correlation to Outcome in Children with Malnutrition of Age 6 Months to 5 Years

Abstract

Background: Wide range of illness is covered under malnutrition including under nutrition, specific nutrient deficiencies and over nutrition. There is heavy cost burden on Pakistani economy due to high prevalent condition. Children are affected in several ways and exposed to infectious diseases, psychosocial mal-development and cognitive deficiencies.
 Objectives: Objectives of this study are to determine the risk factors of malnutrition in children of age 6 months to 5 years and to determine the correlation between risk factors of malnutrition and outcome in children of age 6 months to 5 years.
 Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted at Paediatric Medicine Department, PUMHS (Nawabshah). 138 patients were recruited using the non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Informed consent was taken from study participants before enrolment into the study. Children admitted to peadiatric medicine ward were explored for malnutrition risk factors. A pre-designed proforma was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.
 Results: Out of 138 children, 78 (56.5) were males and 60 (43.5) were females. Average age of patients was 27.49 ± 13.32. Using criteria of MUAC, 97 (70.28%) were severely malnourished and 41 (29.71%) were moderately malnourished. By criteria of weight-to-height z-score, 116 (84.05%) were severe malnourished and 22 (15.94%) were moderately malnourished. Among child factors, the highest prevalent risk factor was bottle and mixed feeding practice (122, 88.40%). Child related factors were significantly associated with patients’ outcome. Among parental risk factors, the highest prevalent risk factor was unemployment (96, 69.57%) fathers of patients were unemployed. Among environmental factors, the most prevalent risk factor was use of inappropriate water source (102, 73.91%). 31 (22.46%) children expired at the end of the study. Environmental factors were also found to be associated with patients’ outcome.
 Conclusion: Lack of breast feeding, unemployment and inappropriate source of water were most prevalent factors. Furthermore, illiteracy and incomplete vaccination status were also prevalent. Therefore, interventions are needed in order to overcome these problems. Parental education should be done and high authorities should make efforts to provide clean and safe water in rural area as well.