Determinants of child malnutrition in Nepal: A case analysis from Dhanusha, Central Terai of Nepal

Type Journal Article - Save the Children Japan-Nepal Office
Title Determinants of child malnutrition in Nepal: A case analysis from Dhanusha, Central Terai of Nepal
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2005
URL http://demoscope.ru/weekly/knigi/tours_2005/papers/iussp2005s51628.pdf
Abstract
Introduction: Malnutrition is an important factor contributing to illness and diseases of adults and children in Nepal. There are many variables or factors that cause malnutrition among children.

Objective: The purpose of this research is to predict the effect of various independent variables on underweight and stunting of children.

Methods:An analytic sample of 860 children under age three for anthropometric, and healthcare and feeding was drawn from the Final Evaluation Survey of Child Nutrition Program in Dhanusha in 2003. Logistic regression and multiple classification analysis techniques in SPSS were used to predict the effects of various independent variables on stunting and underweight malnutrition.

Results: The analysis found that older age children and children whose mothers are illiterate are more likely to be underweight and stunted. Children from families who do not discard rice scum are more advantageous to be welnourished. Colostrum feeding and suffering from diarrhoea have significant effect on underweight but not on stunting.

Conclusion: The study found that rice scum has significant effect on nutritional status of under three children. Similarly, children are benefited from colostrum feeding and prevention or management of diarrhea in terms of nutritional status by weight for age but not for stunting, which is similar to the findings from other studies. The analysis shows further need of research to see the effect of rice scum, colostrum feeding and suffering from diarrhoea on nutrition status of children.

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