Sundaram M Palanivel, Kaveri P, Kalaivanan R, Anantharaman V V, Selvaraj Preethi
Department of Community Medicine, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian J Community Med. 2025 Jul-Aug;50(4):621-628. doi: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_398_23. Epub 2025 Feb 6.
Malnutrition has emerged as a significant global concern, exacerbated by modernization and the pervasive influence of Western culture. Poor dietary habits and lifestyle shifts have rendered populations, particularly children, more vulnerable to both undernutrition and overnutrition. Alterations in dietary patterns among children under 5 years have contributed to a rise in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in adulthood, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. This research aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in the rural areas of Chengalpattu district.
A cross-sectional study was carried out on 420 children aged 6-59 months in the rural village of Chengalpattu. Multistage random sampling was employed to select participants, and data were collected using a pre-tested, validated semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and Chi-square tests were performed to assess the associations. The univariate analysis was followed by a multivariate logistic regression to identify significant predictors.
Overall rate of malnutrition was 46.2%, with 30.2% stunted, 21% wasted, and 24.3% underweight. Malnutrition was statistically significant with gender, low socioeconomic status, breastfeeding initiation after 1 hour of birth, Integrated Child Development Services beneficiary, mode of delivery, birth order, and parental educational status of the children.
The study results indicate that undernutrition remains a significant health concern among children under 5 years of age. Addressing issues such as low living standards, hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy, inadequate antenatal care, and poor sanitary and housing facilities is crucial. Effectively implementing existing policies and initiatives aimed at improving these conditions is essential.
营养不良已成为一个重大的全球问题，现代化进程和西方文化的广泛影响使其更加恶化。不良的饮食习惯和生活方式转变使人群，尤其是儿童，更容易受到营养不良和营养过剩的影响。5岁以下儿童饮食模式的改变导致成年后包括肥胖、糖尿病、高血压和冠心病在内的非传染性疾病患病率上升。本研究旨在评估金奈帕图地区农村6至59个月儿童营养不良的患病率及其决定因素。
在金奈帕图农村对420名6至59个月的儿童进行了横断面研究。采用多阶段随机抽样选择参与者，并使用经过预测试、验证的半结构化问卷收集数据。使用SPSS 26版对数据进行分析，并进行卡方检验以评估相关性。单因素分析之后进行多因素逻辑回归以确定显著预测因素。
总体营养不良率为46.2%，其中发育迟缓率为30.2%，消瘦率为21%，体重不足率为24.3%。营养不良在性别、社会经济地位低、出生后1小时后开始母乳喂养、综合儿童发展服务受益者、分娩方式、出生顺序以及儿童的父母教育状况方面具有统计学意义。
研究结果表明，营养不良仍然是5岁以下儿童的一个重大健康问题。解决生活水平低、饥饿、营养不良、文盲、产前护理不足以及卫生和住房设施差等问题至关重要。有效实施旨在改善这些状况的现有政策和举措至关重要。
