title: Factors Associated with Underweight among Children of Former-Kamaiyas in Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bonded labor was a tradition in Nepal since the 16th century. In 2002, the Government of Nepal freed Kamaiyas and gave the newly freed individuals support for basic living. Many children of former-Kamaiyas live below subsistence level and are vulnerable to undernutrition. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with underweight among the children of former-Kamaiyas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted the community based cross-sectional study from June to December, 2012. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with randomly selected mothers of 280 children under 5 years of age from former-Kamaiya families residing in Banke district. We also measured the weight and height of the children. Undernutrition was defined according to the World Health Organization child growth standards. Factors associated with underweight were examined using a Chi-square test followed by multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 280 children, 116 (41.4%) were underweight (≤2 SD weight-for-age), 156 (55.7%) were stunted (≤2 SD height-for-age), and 52 (18.6%) were wasted (≤2 SD weight-for-height). Females were more likely to be underweight than males [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.696, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.026-2.804]. Children were less likely to be underweight if they were having daily bath (aOR = 0.532; 95% CI = 0.314-0.899) or if their mothers were ≥24 years of age (aOR = 0.440; 95% CI = 0.266-0.727).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of underweight, stunting, and wasting was more than the national average among the children of former-Kamaiyas. Female children were more likely to be underweight whereas children who were being bathed daily and with mothers whose age was ≥24 years were less likely to be underweight.
authors: Saving Newborn Lives Program, Save the Children , Kathmandu , Nepal.
authors: Resham B
authors: RB
authors: Khatri
authors: Monamohan Memorial Institute of Health Science , Kathmandu , Nepal ; Nepal Development Society , Kathmandu , Nepal.
authors: Shiva R
authors: SR
authors: Mishra
authors: Nepal Development Society , Kathmandu , Nepal ; School of Public Health, Curtin University , Perth, WA , Australia.
authors: Vishnu
authors: V
authors: Khanal
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden ; Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University , Kathmandu , Nepal.
authors: Bishnu
authors: B
authors: Choulagai
keywords: Nepal; factors; under five children; undernutrition; underweight