Differential patterns of malnutrition among kindergarten children in Pune city.
In view of the fact that inadequate nutrition is not the sole cause of existing malnutrition but is a complex interaction of social, cultural and environmental factors children growing in different social economical set-ups were studied for the differentials in types of malnutrition. Total of 300 kindergarten children aged 2-5 yr from three socio-economic classes in Pune city were examined. It was observed that even in middle socio-economic class, considerable wasting (38%) was prevalent, while stunting (86%) was the major problem of low socio-economic class children. Age-wise prevalence not only indicated high risk of malnutrition around the age of 2 yr, but also suggested tendency of temporary catch up which did not last long. As wasting and stunting have important-implications for intervention programmes, it is necessary to understand the etiology of different types of malnutrition.
Rao
S
S
Department of Biometry & Nutrition, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.
Karkhanis
L
L
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class