A Survey Study of Anthropometric Characters of Malnourished Children of Slum Dwellers in Indore City

Malnutrition affects human performance, health and survival, including physical growth, morbidity, mortality, cognitive development, reproduction, physical work capacity and risks for several chronic diseases. In Madhya Pradesh state there are 1.3 million severely malnourished children. Nutrition rehabilitation centers (NRCs) were started in the state to control severe malnutrition and decrease the prevalence of severe malnourished children to less than 1% among children aged 1-5 year. Objective of the present survey was i) to make aware people about nutritional and other preventive measures for protein energy malnutrition and severity of complications of PEM. ii) To investigate Prevalence of Malnutrition in Rural areas of Indore. Protein Energy Malnutrition among children below the age of 3-6 years as indicated by anthropometrical measurements (weight-for-age, weight-for- height, height-for-age), had been identified as a major public health problem in children of slum areas. The total number of surveyed children was 500 and they surveyed for appearance and status of hair, lips, teeth, and bones. Percentage of surveyed children having good, fair, poor, very poor appearance were 44.8%, 21%, 31%, 7.40% respectively. Percentage of surveyed children having normal hair, loss and luster hair, discolored & dry hair were 40.60%, 27.80%, 31.44% respectively. Percentage of surveyed children having normal lips and angular stomatitis lips were 51%, 49%, respectively. Percentage of surveyed children having normal teeth, chalky of teeth, pitting of teeth, discolored teeth were 60.80%, 11.40%, 9.40% 18.40% respectively. Percentages of surveyed children having normal skin, dry & rough skin were 71%, 29% respectively. Percentages of surveyed children having normal bones and rickets bones were 99.40%, 0.40%, respectively. Malnutrition among children in slum areas is a public health problem which requires active interventions to improve child and maternal nutrition. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding programs as well as early screening, active case management of PEM and public education should be considered as a national public health priority.