Sociodemographic Factors and Antenatal Service Utilization among Severe Acute Malnutrition Children under 2 Years of Age, Western India (Rajkot, Gujarat) - A Hospital-based Case-Control Study.

Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is multifactorial including poor maternal health, sociodemographic factors, and poor quality of diet of both the mother and child. Present study was carried out to determine sociodemographic factors and antenatal service utilization for SAM occurrence. This hospital-based case-control study was carried out from April 2021 to April 2022. Cases (77) and controls (77) were matched for age and sex with 1:1 ratio. Cases were selected from Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre and controls from an immunization clinic using WHO's Multicentric Growth Reference Study Criteria 2006. Mothers of study participants were interviewed by using semistructured questionnaires. The weight and height of study participants were measured. The odds of children having SAM increased significantly with illiterate parents, working mothers, and labor work of fathers. The absence of toilet facility at home and poor hygienic practices of mothers were significant risk factors. Mother's <4 antenatal visits, home deliveries, and participants with low birth weight were associated with SAM. Logistic regression stated laborer fathers, poor hand washing practices of mothers, absence of toilet facility at home, and low birth weight of study participants were found independent determinants for SAM. Risk factors identified in the present study are modifiable and can be addressed through health system interventions.