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Predictors of under‐ nutrition and overweight among children under age 5 years in India.
Author(s) -
Chakraborty Priyanka,
Anderson Alex Kojo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.916.14
Subject(s) - overweight , underweight , medicine , wasting , breastfeeding , body mass index , malnutrition , demography , multivariate analysis , public health , weight for age , pediatrics , environmental health , population , nursing , pathology , sociology , endocrinology
Objective Although, undernutrition has prevailed in developing countries for years, prevalence of overweight among children has been on the rise in recent years. This study aims to assess the present trend of nutritional status of Indian children. Method Secondary data from the 2005‐2006 Demographic and Health Survey for India was examined. Secondary analysis was performed to identify trends of underweight and overweight of children under age 5. Result Stunting and wasting (HAZ, WHZ z scores <‐2.0) were widely prevalent among index children. While, 18% children were wasted, >38% children were stunted. At the same time, about 8% of urban and rural children were overweight (BMI z‐score >2.0). Analysis with respect to SES showed the difference of BMI‐for‐age between poorest and wealthiest households to be significantly different (mean= ‐0.52; 95% CI= ‐0.60 to ‐0.43; p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis, (adjusted for birth weight) revealed that higher birth order and prolonged duration of breastfeeding had a negative impact on HAZ and BMI for age z‐scores of the index child. On the other hand maternal BMI was found to be positively associated with HAZ, WHZ and BMI‐for age z‐scores. Conclusion Further research and public health programs need to focus on these predisposing factors associated with nutritional status of under‐five children in India. Grant Funding Source Faculty Development Grant