Assessment of Nutritional Status of Children aged 1-5 years attending the Outdoor Patients Department of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

Authors

Rafay Ur Rehman Cheema

Assistant professor, Biochemistry Department

Shazia Sultan

Assistant professor, Physiology Department

Tariq Hussain

APMO Biochemistry Department, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan.

Keywords

Age 1-5 years, Assessment, Children, Nutritional status.

Abstract

Background:

Enforcement of corrective nutritional measures to combat malnutrition in children requires local data for planning strategies.

Objective:

To assess the nutritional status of children, 1-5 years of age, presenting at the Children Outdoor Patient Department (OPD).

Study Design:

Descriptive, Cross-sectional.

Place and Duration of Study:

Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, June to July 2022(02 months).

Material and Methods:

All children, 1- 5 years of age, presenting to OPD were enrolled in the study, by convenience sampling method. Data was collected through a questionnaire that contained information regarding the assessment of nutritional status of children according to WHO growth standards. The data was compared with the growth charts and summarized into tables, graphs and bar diagrams by using SPSS software 23.

Results:

A total of 56 (62.2%) children had normal weight, 32 (35.6%) were underweight and 2 (2.2%) were overweight. The genderspecific underweight percentage in boys was 41.7% while in girls it was 26.5%.

Conclusion:

Considerable proportions of children presenting in the OPD were underweight. Those who were not properly breastfed, had poor vaccination status and low socio-economic status were mostly malnourished. Proper breastfeeding, immunization and monitoring of growth of children should be done to ensure good nutritional health of children.

How to cite this article

Iqbal GY, Farooq HU, Jabeen N,et al. Assessment of nutritional status of children aged 1-5 years attending the outdoor patients department of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim yar khan, Pakistan. HMDJ. 2024; 04(01)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69884/hmdj.4.1.8430

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