A STUDY ON FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PREVALENCE OF SEVERE MALNUTRITION IN INFANTS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF AGE IN PURNIA DISTRICT OF BIHAR
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Date
2022
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Dr.RPCAU, Pusa
Abstract
Worldwide 8.5 million infants under 6 months of age are malnourished, while
the prevalence in India is estimated 14.8% (The Indian Journal of Pediatrics 87,684-
685, 2020). This age group’s malnutrition is a serious global public health issue. In
India wasting (low-weight-for-height) is prevalent in infant under 6 months of age
(31.9%) and severe wasting is prevalent in this age group (14.9%), malnutrition in this
age range is a critical problem. The likelihood of malnutrition in India is relatively
well documented, but there is very minimal information for risk factors of severe
acute malnutrition. SAM is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in
infants thereby infants under 6 months of age need special attention, physiologically
this period represents the transition from neonatal life and mother’s milk is the only
source of nutrition.
The first 6 months of life are characterized by maximum growth and they are
vulnerable to nutrition related events. Many programmes focus on infants over 6
months due to the fact that treating infants less than 6 months of age can be much
more difficult than the treating older children. The key recommendation from WHO
guideline is to recognize the SAM infants less than 6 months and the simple feeding
support and follow up should be offered as first line treatment.
Low birth weight (LBW) babies have increased risk of dying in infancy, and
those who do survive have an increased risk of mortality and acute malnutrition in
infancy and early childhood. Studies indicate that the first 1000 days of life right from
conception till first two years of life is regarded as critical window for boosting
optimum growth, behavioural development and health. It is better to focus from
conception than to depend in any replacement therapy once a deficit has occurred. Yet
in many developing countries, poverty, poor nutritional knowledge leads to under
nutrition which is the major challenge worldwide.
This study was carried out at 98 anganwadi center of Krityanand Nagar block
in Purnia District, after several visits 46 SAM infants were enrolled from total
population size 212. After screening of all the population it was found that the
percentages of SAM infants were 22 percent. To accelerate the study mothers of the
SAM infants were selected as respondents and collected all the information regarding
infants health status, feeding pattern as well as respondents nutritional status, dietary
status, supplementation status, reproductive characteristics, socio-economic
conditions, hygiene and sanitary measures, mental status of mother
From the study it was concluded that lack of exclusive breastfeeding, age,
discarding of colostrum ,lower BMI, age of the mother, Maternal risk factors, lack of
adequate birth spacing, poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation,
maternal mental health, low birth weight of the baby, lack of adequate birth spacing,
series of illness in the infant, less hygiene, poverty, literacy status, ignorance and lack
of adequate knowledge are the combined risk factors for development of SAM in
infants under 6 months.