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RISK FACTORS FOR MALNUTRITION IN SOUTH INDIAN CHILDREN

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2001

L. JEYASEELAN  and
M. LAKSHMAN
L. JEYASEELAN
Affiliation:
Biostatistics Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
M. LAKSHMAN
Affiliation:
Biostatistics Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Abstract

Protein energy malnutrition is a major health problem in India and it affects the growth and development of young children. This study investigated the impact of hygiene, housing and sociodemographic variables on acute malnutrition in children aged 5–7, living in urban and rural areas. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the overall prevalence of severe malnutrition was 8·2%. Older age, male sex, mother's poor education, lower family income, higher birth order of the child, use of dung or fire wood as fuel and defecation within the premises were significantly associated with malnutrition. Appropriate intervention programmes should be formulated to educate and support these families.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , January 1997 , pp. 93 - 100
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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