NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF GERIATRIC POPULATION OF ITAHARI SUB-METROPOLITAN CITY, SUNSARI, NEPAL

Abstract

An analytical cross-section study was conducted on a sample of 151 geriatric population (77- females, 74-males) to assess the nutritional status of geriatric people of itahari sub metropolitancity, sunsari, Nepal. The current study presents the nutritional status of geriatric population and factors associated with the nutritional status of the geriatric population in Itahari Sub-metropolitan city. The information was obtained using pre-tested questionnaire which included socio-demographic information, dietary intake of individuals and other risk factors like alcohol and tobacco use, physical activity etc. Anthropometric measurements were taken to identify the risk factors, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Waist Circumference (Mozaffarian et al.) etc. Also diet and behavioral factors measurements were taken. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2010 were used for analyzing the data. Descriptive analysis were used to identify the nutritional status of geriatric people. A cross sectional study was conducted. A total of 151 geriatric people (60 years and above) of both sexes living at Itahari Sub-metropolitan city were assessed for their nutritional status using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Out of total 151 participants, prevalence of malnutrition in geriatric population was found to be 15.2%, 52.3% were at risk of malnutrition and 32.5% were found to be normal. Gender was significantly associated with the nutritional status whereas various factors such as age, ethnicity, duration of sleep etc. were not significantly associated with the nutritional status of geriatric people. The result of this study concluded that malnutrition is a major problem in geriatric people living in Itahari Sub-metropolitan city. The problems that the geriatric people are facing must be identified and appropriate policies and programs targeted at such issues should be developed by concerned authority.