Socio-Demographic Determinants of Malnutrition among Children of 1-6 Years of Age in Rural Meerut

Background:Knowledge of various causes and coexisting factors is necessary to combat malnutrition in community. Objectives: To study the prevalence of PEM and its various socio-demographic correlates in children of 1-6 years in rural community. Method: A cross-sectional study by house to house visit covering 406 children (1-6 years) from the sub centre villages of additional PHC Amarpur in Machhra block of Meerut district. Result: The prevalence of underweight was 57.4% according to IAP classification with the proportion of grade I, II and III under nutrition being 68.2%, 29.2% and 2.6% and none of the children in grade IV under nutrition. The prevalence of underweight was significantly higher in 3-6 years children (64.1%) as compared to 1-3 years children (47.6%) and there was no significant difference in the sex and caste. Prevalence of underweight was significantly higher in children belonging to nuclear families. There was direct association of underweight in relation to poor housing and environmental sanitations and low standard of living index. The prevalence of underweight was low in children of literate mother. Conclusion: The study suggests to focus on preschool children for growth monitoring, especially in low socioeconomic families , approaching them by the help of anganwadis,and educating mothers of preschoolers about the impact of environmental sanitation on health..