Asssociation of Factors Affecting the Nutritional Status of 6-59 months Children in Phidim Municipality

Abstract

Child malnutrition in the form of stunting, wasting, underweight and clinical malnutrition has significant implications for healthy human development. Despite the various efforts, malnutrition among children is remaining as a major public health problem in Nepal. This study was undertaken with the objectives to assess the feeding practices and nutritional status of under-five year children and to find out the factors associated with it. A community based cross sectional study was conducted on 180 children aged 6-59 months using anthropometric measurement and structured questionnaires for assessing the feeding practices and nutritional status of under-five children of Phidim municipality. Children were selected by simple random sampling method. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and WHO Anthro 3.2.2 version. Chi-square test was used to identify the associated factors of malnutrition. The analysis of this study revealed that, 41.7%, 29.4% and 16.7% of children were stunted, underweight and wasted, respectively. The main associated factors of stunting were found to be age of child in month, colostrum feed to child, frequency of feeding of child in a day, initiation of feeding vegetable, type of vaccines and supplementation to mother, vaccination to child and initiation of water feed. Underweight was found to be associated with age of child, birth order of child, education of mother, initiation of feeding vegetables, types of vaccine and supplementation to mother during pregnancy and vaccination to child. Wasting was found to be associated with age of caretaker, birth order of child, exclusive breastfeeding, vaccination and supplementation of mother during pregnancy, type of vaccine and supplementation to mother, vaccination to child, water treatment at household level and duration of breastfeeding. From the findings of this study, it is concluded that malnutrition is still an important problem among children aged 6-59 months in Phidim Municipality. Therefore, special attention should be given on intervention program on malnutrition.