The Malnutrition Challenge

Can We Do it?

Aarthy Rajashree, KarThiKeyan, Neenu Sadanandan, Ramya, RavinKumar, Shyam

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Malnutrition(undernutrition)is characterized by the imbalance between the body's needs and the intake of protein, energy, and micronutrients, which can lead to syndromes of deficiency, frequent infections and resultant disorders. Causes of malnutrition are multi-factorial. Its consorts are poverty, disturbed family structure, ignorance and despair. The nutritional status of slum children is said to be the worst amongst all urban groups, and is even poorer than the rural average. There is the lack of any significant improvement over the year in this population. Malnutrition is more widespread than many suspect and with one out of every 3 children affected in developing countries. Malnutrition undermines the productivity and abilities of entire societies. 226 Million Children less than 5yrs of age in developing countries are malnourished. Malnutrition contributes to more than half of the nearly 12 million under 5 deaths in developing countries each year. Malnutrition is frequently a part of vicious cycle that includes poverty and disease.

Introduction

Poverty

Disease

Nutrition

Justification •

Malnutrition is a perennial health problem afflicting the poor and social excluded. There is scarcity of published data reporting the trends in prevalence of malnutrition in urban slums.

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While pace of urbanization is increasing at a faster rate, corresponding measures to safeguard the health and nutrition of the slum-dwellers are lacking.

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Many national programmes & health education programmes– both face-to-face and mass media has been going on for many years - effect of health education on the community and sustainability is limited.

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So this study aims to assess malnutrition among urban slum children.

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According to WHO’s fact sheet Malnutrition and Water-related Diseases “Malnutrition is a major health problem, especially in developing countries. The effect of malnutrition on susceptibility to infectious diarrhoea are reinforcing elements of the same vicious circle, especially amongst children in developing countries.”

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In the second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) report, almost half of children under three years of age (47%) were underweight, these results can not be extrapolated to the urban slums.Countrywide data for the prevalence of malnutrition in urban slums is lacking. In the NFHS-2 report, undernutrition was higher in rural areas than in urban areas

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ICDS nutrition intervention programmes achieved better coverage of the target population and led to a significant decline in malnutrition.ICDS-Anganwadi Centres play an important role in alleviating undernutrition(Tandon)

Materials and Methodology •

The locale: HUDCO Colony Slum, Peelamedu, Coimbatore

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Study population: Children under the age of five years

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Sample size: 25 Children

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Study design: Cross-sectional, interventional.

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Inclusion criteria: All children of preschool age ( 59 months)

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Exclusion criteria: Children who are not of preschool age > 59 months,children who have not resided in the locality for the past one month, and who are temporarily staying

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Tools: Interview schedule

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Anthropometry: Height and weight were measured adhering to standard procedures

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Newly released WHO reference data on child growth has been used to assess malnutrition .Children were plotted on these charts to assess the degree of malnutrition.

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Methods of intervention: Health education using charts on the topics.

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Method of evaluation: Comparison of results of preintervention and post-intervention surveys

RESULTS

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Discussion • • • • • • • • • • •

Breast Feeding Weaning Colustrum Feeding During Illness Usage of feeding Bottles Primary Health Services ICDS Educational Status (Gupta) Socio-Economic Status Environments and sanitation Survey Result

Suggestions & Limitations • Cross sectional study • Study population • Time constraint •

No control group to compare and contrast the results

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Sustainability

• Community mobilization &community participation •

Legacy of inequality and deprivation is passed on to the next generation unless intervened

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