BACKGROUND: Children are the precious possession of the family, community and the country. Nearly 200 million (30%), are malnourished in the world and over 2/ 3rd of malnourished are in Asia. Every 3rd underfed child in the world lives in India. India is home to 40% of world's malnourished children. According to global hunger index India ranks 117th of 119 countries in malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: 1. To find the prevalence of PEM among 1-6 year children. 2. To assess the knowledge of the mothers regarding adequate nutrition and its association to undernourishment. METHODS: Cross-sectional study among 150 children was undertaken for a period of 1 month from June to July 2014 at urban slums of old Hubli. Knowledge of mother was assessed by questionnaire, scores were assigned to responses and clinical examination of child along with anthropometry was carried out. RESULTS: Obtained by WHO Anthro Plus software through Z-scores, which showed 24.6% were moderately and 13.4% severely undernourished by weight and 22% were moderately and 25.4% severely stunted. Birth weight of child had significant (P<0.05) association with undernourishment. Knowledge scores regarding nutrition among mothers was good among 35.3%, moderate in 38.7% and poor in 26%, its correlation to undernourishment was significant (p<0.001). Pearson's correlation, showed a positive linear relationship between knowledge and nourishment and Linear Regression model established knowledge as a significant variable having independent and direct influence on nutritional status of child (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Parent's literacy, knowledge and child's birth weight has a direct impact on child's nutritional status. Education and awareness is the key to progress.
