Relationship of non-organic factors with malnutrition among children under three years of age.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association of socioeconomic and physical environmental factors with malnutrition among children under 3 years of age in four districts of Pakistan.


METHODS
Cross-sectional comparative study.


METHODS
Selected MCH, Centres of Lahore, Jhang, Gilgit and Pallandri (AJK) providing preventive, promotive and curative services during the month of January 2004.


METHODS
A total of 448 children under 3-years of age coming to selected MCH centers, during the study period, were examined for malnutrition. The children were divided into two groups (normal/malnourished) on the basis of standard WHO weight for age growth chart. The compared variables were weaning and breast feeding practices, gender, vaccination status, living conditions and parents' educational status.


RESULTS
There were 238 (53%) male and 210 (47%) female children examined for malnutrition. The difference in weaning age, gender and vaccination status among normal and malnourished children were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). A higher proportion of malnourished children (62.6%) was also found in families living in one room houses as compared to 2 or more room houses (p=0.01). There was an inverse association of educational status of both parents with malnutrition of children (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This series showed a higher proportion of malnutrition among children, who were unvaccinated, weaned after seven months of age, not exclusively breast-fed for first six months, and lived in poor environmental conditions.
Mujib
Sahibzada Azhar
SA
Director Center for Information Technology, Institute of Public Health, Lahore, Pakistan.
Kazmi
Tahseen
T
Khan
Sadaf
S
Shad
Mushtaq Ahmad
MA
Bashir
Muhammad
M
Khan
Behram
B
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014611:Vaccination