Prevalence of Malnutrition among the Children Residing in India and Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and prevalence rate of malnutrition of 7 to 9 year school going children of India [Nagpur] and Ethiopia [Nekemte]. Methods: Nutritional status of children was assessed in terms of dietary assessment, anthropometric measurement, biochemical and clinical assessment. Results: The results of the study revealed that food and nutrient intake was inadequate and consumption of all the nutrients by the children was comparatively less than the recommended dietary allowances. Anthropometry revealed that out of total children screened (N=200), mean height and weight in all the age group was significantly less than the NCHS standards. According to Gomez’s classification of weight for age shows that 76% of the children suffered from moderate malnourished in Nekemte and 23% of the children suffered from severe malnourished in Nagpur. Waterlow’s classification of weight for height depicts 73% and 79% of the children suffered from severe wasting in Nagpur and Nekemte. According to Waterlow’s classification of height for age, 56% of the children suffered from moderate stunting in Nagpur. According to BMI-for-Age (WHO 2007), 31% of the children were below -3SD score in Nekemte. 79% of anaemia prevalence rate was observed among the children of Nagpur. In Nekemte 26% of children had calcium deficiency and skin infection. Conclusions: It is concluded the disease or morbid condition, poor health and poor nutritional conditions at the population level, which may be due to lower intake of food and nutrients than recommended.