NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG 6 - 59 MONTHS CHILDREN IN THARU COMMUNITY OF DURUWA VDC, DANG

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the factors associated with nutritional status of 6 – 59 months Tharu children in Duruwa VDC of Dang District with sample of 189 children were selected by using random sampling technique; anthropometric measurements (weight, height, MUAC) were performed to find the nutritional status of children and Hemocue was used to determine anemia. A pre-coded questionnaire was used to collect information and was administered to caretaker. WHO Anthro version 3.2.2 and SPSS version 20 were used to analyze data. Chi- square test was used to analyze the factors associated with nutritional status of child. Prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight are 13.2%, 27%, and 21.2% respectively while 60.4% of the children were anemic (N=48). Male population who were anemic was 45.5% whereas 73.1% of females were anemic. Chi- square test revealed that IDDS (P<0.05) was significantly associated with stunting, wasting and underweight. Food frequency (P<0.05) was significantly associated with stunting and underweight. Child age (P<0.05), Annual income (P<0.05), Birth order (P<0.05) was significantly associated with wasting, stunting and underweight respectively. Hence the nutrition intervention programs focusing these risk factors should be launched immediately to overcome the problems.