Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

Introduction: Under nutrition is a major health and nutritional problem in all over the world especially in third world countries. More than 90% of the global burden of under nutrition is attributable to 36 countries of the world, and Afghanistan is one of them. In 2013, about 50% of all stunted children lived in Asia and over one third in Africa. Nutritional problems affect the lowest socioeconomic layer with negative consequences manifested in school-age, learning problem, high level of school dropout, and a low percentage of students enrolling into higher education. This limits development of economic benefits and adult productivity. Determinants of under nutrition may differ based on region, culture, communities and over time. Knowing underlying causes of under nutrition in particular locality is important to take steps for solving these problems. Therefore, this study was conducted to find out the associations between child under nutrition and its different demographic determinants and nutritional practices. Methods and material: To achieve the objective of the study, a case-control study design was applied. The cases were 134 under-nourished (who were according to WHO screening tool, underweight, wasted or stunted) children under the age of 5 years and the controls (n=134) were recruited concurrently from children under 5years (who were not, according to WHO screening tool, underweight, wasted or stunted) coming to FMIC hospital for medical treatment. The study was conducted from July 2016 to September 2016 at FMIC (French Medical Institute for Mother and Children). The statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 22; Logistic regression was used to identify the association among independent variables and dependent variables. Results: The mean age of the participants were 23.62+12.84 & 19.40+12.3 months for cases and controls respectively. The majority of participants [95(70.9%) cases & 98(73.1%) controls] were from urban area. 88% of cases & 93% of controls participants were born at Hospital. 96(71.6%) & 93(69.4%) of the cases and controls received vaccine according to their age, 36(26%) from cases and 40(29.9%) from controls were partially vaccinated. Children whom EBF to 6 months of life 36(26.9%) were from cases and 86(64%) from controls. CF started before 6month of life 21(15.7%), 9(6.7%) at 6 months 64(47.8%), 101(75.4%) after 6 months 49(36.6%) of cases & controls respectively. Mothers having one child under the age of 5years were 50(37.3%) and 76(56.7%) for cases and controls and the number of mothers having more than one child were 84(62.3%), 58(43.3)

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