Open AccessPREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION AMONG SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN OF UNIVERSITY CAMPUS PESHAWAR 2013
Author(s) -
Zia Ur Rehman,
Muhammad Ishtiaq,
Muhammad Naeem,
Rubeena Gul,
Muhammad Amjad,
Imranullah,
Bushra Iftikhar
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
journal of saidu medical college
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1819-4583
DOI - 10.52206/jsmc.2014.4.1.434-437
Subject(s) - underweight , malnutrition , overweight , anthropometry , medicine , pediatrics , public health , environmental health , body mass index , nursing , pathology
BACKGROUND: School going children are one of the neglected public health sectors and thus lead toimproper nutrition and are at potential risk for growth and developmental problems starting from earlylife, and eventually affecting their physical and mental status, so this study was conducted to highlightmalnutrition problems among school going children.OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of malnutrition in school going children of university campusPeshawar.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 school goingchildren of university campus Peshawar; during April to August 2013. Two schools of male children ofage four to twelve years were included while female children, migrants, and those having anypathological conditions were excluded. Weight and height were measured and body mass indexcalculated using standard procedures of anthropometric measurements. After that the individual BMIwere categorized according to the international standards.RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition in our study was 37% among 4 to 12 years school agechildren of university campus Peshawar. The prevalence of under nutrition was found in 30%; out ofwhich 18% were slightly underweight, 10% were moderately underweight and only 2% were severelyunderweight, while only 7% were overweight.CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of malnutrition was more (37%) among four to twelve years schoolgoing children of University campus Peshawar and approximately 63% were normal on themeasurements of BMI calculated.• KEY WORDS: Prevalence, Malnutrition, Underweight, Children.