Published on June 2017 | Child Nutrition

PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF UNDERWEIGHT: A STUDY ON SCHOOL-GOING CHILDREN OF FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL AREAS OF DISTRICT DODA, JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA

Background: Malnutrition is a serious public health problem that has been linked to substantial increase in the risk of mortality and morbidity. Adequate nutrition particularly at an early stage plays a key role to live an active and healthy life. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of underweight and its determinants among 6-14 years old school going children of farming households in district Doda of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods: The present study was conducted in district Doda of Jammu & Kashmir to assess the nutritional status (underweight) of 182 school going children (6-14 years) among farming households. Nutritional status of the children was assessed in terms of anthropometric measurement. Weight for age (WAZ) of the sample subjects were calculated and compared with WHO-2007 reference standard. Z-scores were calculated by using Anthro Plus software. Results: Results indicate that out of the total children screened (N=182), 6.45 percent of male and 19.10 percent of female children were underweight. The main determinants of malnutrition were found to be child's gender, parents’ education and economic status of the family. Conclusion: There is a great need to focus the attention of the policy-makers for intervening in such areas, as nutritional status of children i