A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN SLUMS OF DIBRUGARH TOWN

A cross-sectional study had been carried out in the urban slums of Dibrugarh during July, 2007 to June, 2008 and a total of 316 preschool children (aged one to five years) had been included in the study. The nutritional status of the study subjects had been assessed by anthropometry and for this Z-score approach is utilized. In order to compare the prevalence of malnutrition in different categories, z-test for testing the difference between two proportions had been employed and chi(2)-test was utilized for testing the associations. The study revealed that the overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting among the preschool children was 59.37%, 53.12% and 17.81% respectively. Also, it had been observed that the prevalence of stunting was significantly higher in children of illiterate mothers (p < 0.01) and wasting was significantly higher (p < 0.001) amongst the children of working mothers. Underweight and stunting was higher in Class III socioeconomic group (p< 0.01) and wasting was higher in class IV socioeconomic group (p< 0.05) as per modified Kuppuswami's socioeconomic classification. From the present study it had been revealed that illiteracy, lower socioeconomic status and working status of the mother had a negative impact on the nutritional status of their children. The results of the present study indicate the urgent need for appropriate steps to be taken to improve the nutritional status of the children of these areas.