title: Nutritional status of children aged 3-6 years in a rural area of tamilnadu.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A child's entire life is determined in large measures by the food given to him during his first five years. Since childhood is the most vulnerable phase in the life of human being, nutritional inadequacies will result in the hampering of the development of the body. Future of the country is determined by the growing generation of the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  a) To assess the nutritional status of children aged 3-6 y in a rural area of TamilNadu. b) To identify the factors associated with the nutritional status of the above study population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kuthambakkam village in Tamilnadu, Cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total number of children aged 3-6 y is 172 in Kuthambakkam village. The entire children aged 3-6 y was included in the study. Mothers of the children were interviewed using an interview schedule to collect information regarding the sociodemographic profile, feeding practices, and immunization status. Socio-economic status was assessed using modified BG Prasad's classification. Weight of the children was measured using a portable weighing machine. Nutritional status among 3-6 y old children was assessed by computing weight for age (standard used - National Centre For Health Statistics (NCHS) standards for weight for age) and grading of nutritional status of the children was done using the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) classification. Grade I to Grade IV nutritional grade is taken as undernourished. Statistical Analytical: Prevalence will be expressed in percentage and Chi-square test will be used to find association with factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of under-nutrition (≤ 80 percentage of standard weight for age) was 66.5%. The prevalence of grade 1 malnourishment was 46.2%.The prevalence of under nourishment increased with increasing age and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p< 0.05).Prevalence of under nourishment was higher among male children (76.9%)than female children (56.3%) and was statistically significant. As the socioeconomic status increased the prevalence of undernourishment decreased and the difference was found to be statistically significant(p<0.05). Duration of exclusive breast feeding had influence on the nutritional status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community based preventive measures should be taken to allievate malnutrition. Health education to the mothers on dietary practices like feeding their children with locally available low cost but healthy food should be given. Nutritional rehabilitation centres should be established. Improving the socioeconomic standards is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College,Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: R
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical Collegeand Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sivanandham
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical Collegeand Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Sam Dashni
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Salome
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical Collegeand Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Roniya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Sakthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sampavi
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Sabu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: S R
authors.affiliation: Student, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha University , Thandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu, India .
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prasad
keywords: Nutritional status; Rural; Socio demographic profile