NUTRITIONAL STATUS ASSESSMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN ATTENDING ANGANWADI CENTERS OF AHMEDABAD CITY

Abstract

Preschool children age group is a vulnerable population which seeks more attention and care on nutritional status. For the present study 142 children aged two year to five year were purposively selected. The data were collected by pre-prepared questionnaires. Anthropometric measurement was done by weight, height, Middle Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), Head and chest circumference, BMI. Severity of malnutrition was assessed by Weight for age, height for age and weight for height. The study revealed 36.6 percent children were stunting and 16.9 percent were severe stunting, 23.9 percent children were underweight while 30.3 percent children were severely underweight, 5.6 percent children were fall under severe wasting category while 19 percent children were fall under wasting category. The results of the study indicates that under nutrition is still an important public health problem among children in Isanpur area of Ahmedabad and was significantly associated with gender, family income, education of mother, as well as dietary intake. Personal hygiene and sanitation, dietary intake might help to improve nutritional status of children.