NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG NOMAD CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD

Abstract

Background: Globally, more than 150 million under five children are malnourished. In Pakistan 43.7% of under five children were stunted, 15.1% were wasted and 31.5% were underweight according to NNS, 2011. Nomads are the shifted or migrated people, they are the neglected ones therefore have a very poor health status and knowledge about nutrition. The aim of this study was to improve the nutritional status of the under five nomad children in district Faisalabad. The objectives were to assess the nutritional status of nomad children, knowledge of mothers regarding the nutritional status of their children, factors associated with the nutritional status of these children.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in nomad settlements of four Union councils of district Faisalabad. A structured questionnaire was used and anthropometric measurements like height, weight and MUAC of 296 children selected consecutively were calculated. Results were analyzed by using WHO Anthro to identify stunting, wasting and underweight cases whereas SPSS-20 was used for descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Results showed that the proportion of malnutrition among under five children was 86% in which 10.8% were wasted, 53.4% were stunted and 58.8% were underweight. About 76% of the mothers have no knowledge about their child's nutritional needs. A significant association was found between malnutrition and sociodemographic, child health and maternal health characteristics including knowledge of mothers.
Conclusion: The nutritional status of the nomad children less than five years was unsatisfactory. Therefore efforts should be made to enhance nomad mothers knowledge through CMW's and LHW's and also provide nutritional support to them.