Background
Nutritional status of children is one of the major predictors of child survival.
However, malnutrition is a major public health problem in most of the developing
countries and occurs prominently among under-five children. In context of Nepal,
nearly 37% children are suffering from underweight, 41% from stunting and 11% are
suffering from wasting. These children are at a substantially greater risk of severe
acute malnutrition and death.
Objective
The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional status of children under five
years of age and to find the factors associated with malnutrition.
Method
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dolakha and Kavre districts of Nepal for
assessing the nutritional status of under-five children and associated factors. A
total of 243 under five children were included from two purposively selected village
development committees (VDCs) i.e. one from each district. Statistical Package for
the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22 Version and ENA Software Version 2011 were used for
analyzing the data.
Result
Out of 243 children, according to WHO based on weight for height assessment, 17
(7.0%) were wasted, in height for age analysis, 97 (39.9%) were stunted and in weight
for age assessment, 46 (18.9%) were underweight.
Conclusion
In the study population, there is high prevalence of malnutrition, especially stunting
among under-five. Taking into account weight, height, age, and mid upper arm
circumference (MUAC) measurements of malnourished children more than threefifths
of them were found below -2SD and nearly one-fourths below -3SD which
needs intervention.