Nutritional Status of 1-5yrs Children under Ulubari, UHTC, Assam

Under five age group is taken as a priority group because of their large number. In India they comprise about 13 % if total population. Globally 5.9million children under the age of 5yrs died in 2015. More than half of these early child death are due to conditions that could be prevented or treated with access to simple affordable interventions. Malnutrition is regarded as the most widespread condition affecting the health status of under 5 child. Malnutrition is a condition resulting from faulty nutrition. Approximately 47 % of children in India are underweight. According to NFHS-4 data in Assam 29.8 % of under5 children are underweight.6.2 % are severely wasted, 17.0 % are wasted, 36.4 % are stunted. Nutritional status assessment is the measurement that best defines the health and nutritional status of children, while also providing an indirect measurement of well being for the entire population. The present study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status of of 1-5yrs children in the urban slum area of Guwahati city, Assam. Objectives (1) To assess the nutritional status of 1-5yrs childern in slums under Ulubari, UHTC, Guwahati city. (2) To find out the association between various sociodemographic factors and nutritional status. Materials and method A community based cross sectional study was carried out in the field practice area of Ulubari, UHTC under the Department of Community Medicine of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati. The children were examined and mothers of the children were interviewed. Study period Five months (15th Nov 2016 to 15th January 201) 7. Sample size380 Results It was observed that the prevalence of underweight was32 %, wasting 25 % and stunting 18 %. Significant association was found between nutritional status of children and S E status, however no significant association was found with education of mother and birth order.