SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS FOR SEVERE ACUTE MALUNTRITION IN CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE PRESENTING TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

Abstract

Objective: To identify the social and environmental risks factors of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children of less than 5 years of age.
Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at nutrition rehabilitation unit of pediatric ward, Leady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from January 2018 to July 2018. A total of 400 children having SAM of both genders and age range of 6 month to 5 years were included in the study. Children with co-morbid conditions like cardiac failure, nephritic syndrome, renal failure and other chronic diseases were excluded. Socio-economic and environmental risk factors were recorded. Chi-square test was applied for determining association between risk factors and malnutrition.
Results: Out of 400 children, 210 (52.5%) were males and 190 (47.5%) were females. The mean age was 1.69 years (SD 1.142). Various socio-economic risk factors like education and occupation of parents, monthly family income, drug addiction in family, more than two children under 5 years of age, previous infant/children death, large family size, next pregnancy and environmental risk factors like, family type, domestic water supply, source of drinking of water, and type of latrine were significantly associated with malnutrition (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Various socio-economic and environmental risk factors have significant association with malnutrition in children aged less than 5 years.