Nutritional Status of Under-Five Children in Western Nepal

Authors

  • Bandana Shrestha Department of Paediatrics, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Centre, Pokhara

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.10566

Keywords:

anthropometry, under five children, undernutrition

Abstract

Introduction: Undernutrition is a major health problem in developing countries which may have adverse effects on growth and development of an individual. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and grades of malnutrition in children below 60 months of age, attending outpatient department at Gandaki Medical College teaching hospital.

Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 556 children below 60 months of age from August to December 2013. Weight and length/height were measured using standard technique and were plotted on WHO centiles curves and severity determined based on WHO classification. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting were determined by anthropometry.

Results: Based on WHO classification, out of 556 children, 20.2% were underweight, 34% were stunted and 15.1% were wasted respectively. Of them, severe underweight were 4.7%, severe stunted were 14.1% and severe wasted were 7.2% respectively.

Conclusion: A high prevalence of undernutrition exists in under- five children attending a tertiary hospital in a western region of Nepal.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.10566

J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(2):119-124 

 

 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
2051
PDF
906

Downloads

Published

2014-10-30

How to Cite

Shrestha, B. (2014). Nutritional Status of Under-Five Children in Western Nepal. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 34(2), 119–124. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.10566

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).