Epidemiologic Risk Factors Associated with Malnutrition in Children (3-5 Years of Age) at District Peshawar

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This study was designed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in terms of wasting and stunting in children between 3- and 5 years of age and to analyze the risk factors associated with malnutrition among them in the district of Peshawar.

METHODOLOGY:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the district of Peshawar. Multi-staging simple random probability sampling selected a sample of 225 children between 3 and 5 years. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire containing demographic, risk factors and anthropometry.

RESULTS:

In a sample of 225 children, the prevalence of malnutrition was quite alarming. Stunting and wasting were observed in the age group 3-5 years. Low weight- for height was observed at 20%, and leanness through mid-arm circumference among children between 3-5 years of age in Peshawar district was 28%, although the mean values for all the indicators fell at the 50^th percentile. About 76.9% were exclusively breastfed, and 29.8% of children were partially vaccinated. The association of low MUAC with breastfeeding (chi-square value of 28.9 & P= <0.001), vaccination (chi-square value (χ²) 80.3 & P=<0.001), weaning (χ²= 31.1 & P= <0.001), mothers’ education (χ²= 5.28 & P= <0.028), family income χ²= 40.79 & P= <0.001), birth defects (χ²= 8.39 & P= <0.009), and frequent infections (χ²= 36.5 & P= <0.001) respectively showed that these confounding factors were the major factors behind these malnourished children. Almost the same association was found in the low w χ2= 31.1 & P= <0.001) and the tested socio-demographic and dietary factors. However, family size failed to show negative impacts in our study.

CONCLUSION:

Malnutrition tends to occur more in children who are not breastfed, started weaning later than 6 months, are not vaccinated, have birth defects and frequent infections, are born to uneducated mothers, and have low family incomes.