ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF 6 - 59 MONTHS OF CHILDREN IN MUSAHAR COMMUNITY OF MADHELI VDC, SUNSARI

Abstract

Abstract A cross- sectional study was conducted to assess nutritional status of 6 to 59 months aged children of Musahar community of rural Sunsari District, Nepal. Sixty children were selected applying census sampling technique for the assessment. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 60 children paired with their mothers or caretakers. Anthropometric measurements and basic associated factors were collected. SPSS version 20 and WHO Anthro 3.2.2 version were used for data analysis. Chi square technique was used to assess factors associated to nutritional status of children. Statistical association was declared. Out of 60 Musahar children, 61.7%, 41.7% and 10% of them were stunted, underweight, and wasted respectively. All three types of undernutrition were prevalence among 5% of total children. The study found significant difference in stunting with weaning age (P=0.044) and age of mother at first pregnancy (P=0.049). The age of mother at first pregnancy (P=0.017) was also significantly associated with underweight whereas wasting was not found statistically significant with any factors. Musahar community had 66.7 % children who had at least one kind of under-nutrition. Out of them, nearly half children were in critical condition (below -3SD) and they need immediate intervention.