Prevalence of stunting and its determinants in under five children in the rural field practice area of S.N. medical college, Bagalkot: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Malnutrition is responsible for serious health, social and economic consequences throughout the life course as well as across generations, making it the leading risk factor among children under five. In recognition of the burden of malnutrition among under-five children, United Nations SDG's are specifically directed towards improving child health in developing countries. In India, like many developing countries, the most common nutritional problems in infancy and early childhood are stunting, wasting; iron-deficiency anaemia, poverty and low birth weight. When there is a failure to achieve the expected height/length as compared to the healthy well nourished children indicates stunting. It is an indicator of linear growth retardation that results from failure to receive adequate nutrition over a long period or recurrent infections. It is an indicator of past growth failure. Objective: To study the prevalence of Stunting in under 5 children in the rural field practice area of S.N. Medicalcollege, Bagalkot. Materials and Methods: According to the study done by Shreyaswi MS et al, taking prevalence of Stunting in Rural Karnataka as 63.16%, sample size was calculated using N=4PQ/L.2 The sample size was calculated as 372.2 and a sample of 384 was collected. Stunting was assessed by anthropometric measurements and data regarding sociodemographic factors affecting Stunting were also considered. Data was compiled and tabulated by using MS EXCEL. Data was analysed using Spss. Binary logistic regression was applied. Results: The prevalence of Stunting was 39% and 4.4% were severely stunted. Stunting was significantly associated with age, birth weight, socioeconomic status, ANC visits, pre-lacteal feeds, Place of delivery, Immunisation status and H/O diarrhoea or ARI in the past one year. Conclusion: The prevalence of stunting in the rural areas still remains high despite the measures taken by the government to reduce undernutrition. The issues giving rise to undernutrition need to be addressed.