Effect of Nutritional Intervention in Undernourished Children at Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh

Context: Malnutrition is the major public health problem in many developing countries such as India. Government of India started Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) to rehabilitate the severe acute malnourished children. Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of nutritional intervention measures in NRC. Methodology: It is a hospital based observational study using the secondary data, conducted at RIMS Ongole, during the period from October 2015 to December 2015. A total of 110 children are selected for study. Information about age, gender and anthropometric measurements of selected children is collected and Z scores of all anthropometric indicators are calculated using WHO Anthro software. Statistical analysis used: Comparison done for Z scores of anthropometric measurements at the time of admission and at discharge. Results: Maximum number of under nourished children are preschool children. Among the affected Children, Males are more in number when compared to female children. Average number of days of stay at NRC of under nourished children is 12.28 ± 4.27 days, average weight gain is 960 ± 500 grams. Mean Z scores of weight for age, height for age, weight for height, BMI and MUAC are improved from the time of admission to discharge. Statistical significance found for all the anthropometric indicators except for Z score of height for age. Conclusion: Nutritional intervention at NRC decreased the severity of malnourishment among children.