Statistical Analysis on Nutritional Status and its Associated Factors of Under Five Years Children in Nepal

Abstract

Malnutrition among under five year of age group is a major underlying cause of the child morbidity and mortality in many developing countries like Nepal. Nutritional status of children is a proxy indicator for assessing the health status of entire population. This study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional status of the most vulnerable age group of children (0-59 months) and to identify different factors associated with it. Generally three anthropometric indicators were often used to assess the nutritional status of children height-for-age, weight-for-height and weight-for-age. This study is based on data of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey.  WHO Anthro software and IBM SPSS 20 were used to analyze the data. The prevalence of the malnutrition (stunted, wasted and underweight) was found in the different aspect. This study consists of 2334 children of under five years age groups, out of this 50.9% were male children and 49.1% were female children, the prevalence of the stunted is 41%, wasted 29% and underweight 11%. The prevalence of diarrhea during the data collection period is 13.80% and prevalence of fever during the data collection period is 18.70%. The statistically significant factor were body mass index of mother, wealth index, size of child at birth and education of mother and smoking habit of mother. Malnutrition (stunted, wasted and underweight) still remains as a major health problem in our country Nepal. So, our government should be focused on those factors which are significantly associated with malnutrition like health care during pregnancy period, education of mother etc. Significant number of under-five children’s of Nepal was malnourished. Maternal factors have significant association with nutritional status of the children which include extra diet in pregnancy and lactation, iron supplements in pregnancy, exclusive breast feeding for six months.