Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020

Identifying prevalence, aetiology and associations in malnourished hospitalized children: A cross-sectional study

Sumit Thakur¹, Ashish Varma^2♦, Sachin Damke³, Revat Meshram², Bhavana Lakhkar⁴

¹Clinical Fellow in Neonates, David Ferguson Neonatal Unit, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK NP20 2 UB, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Sawangi[M], Wardha, India.
²Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Sawangi[M], Wardha, India.
³Professor & HOD, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Sawangi[M], Wardha, India.
⁴Professor & HOD, Department of Neonatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Sawangi[M], Wardha, India.

^♦Corresponding author
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Sawangi[M], Wardha, India; Email: avarma2055@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Malnutrition is the cause of substantial health problems that need significant consideration in children. Malnutrition is caused by multiple aetiology has a direct association with infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of moderate and severe (Grade II, III and IV) malnutrition, aetiological factors in the causation of Malnutrition, and prevalence and type of anaemia, vitamin deficiencies and infections in hospitalized malnourished children. Methodology: The research was designed as a crosssectional observational study in the paediatric malnourished population at Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi, India. The study included the children between 6 months to 5 years with Grade II, III and IV malnutrition, who were admitted in the paediatric ward and excluded those with neurological problems, syndromes, and chronic diseases affecting development. Result: The Prevalence of moderate and severe malnutrition (Grade II, III and IV) in admitted patients below 5 yrs at AVBRH was 10.18%. Majority of malnourished children were under the age of 3 years with males as the major bulk overall. Acute respiratory infections were the most common presenting problem among these children followed by diarrhoea. Stunting was present in 60.14% of children indicating chronic malnutrition while rest had acute malnutrition. Vitamin deficiencies were significant in all grades of malnutrition. Conclusion: In a developing country like India, malnutrition is one of the biggest health problems. Our study demonstrated that the majority of malnourished children were males, and presented with respiratory infections. Besides, the most common findings included anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, and skin and hair changes.

Keywords: Malnutrition, India, Health Problems

Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4663-4671

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