PREVALENCE AND ITS ASSOCATED RISK FACTORS OF MALNUTRITION IN THE VILLAGE AGRA, MALAKAND AND MELA MANDRA KHEL, LAKKI MARWAT

Abstract

The nutritional condition of children under five years old serves as a strong reflection of a nation's overall health and nutrition levels, as well as its economic condition. This study investigated different effects of some socioeconomic, environmental, demographic, education and health related factors on nutritional status of children under the age of five years in urban areas of village Mela mandra khel (district Lakki Marwat) and Agra (district Malakand), Pakistan. The study was cross-sectional and questionnaire-based survey using random sampling to select households and then using systematic sampling within household children with a child < 60 month of age in urban areas. Their health status was assessed through physical examination and through anthropometric measurements (mid upper arm circumference, head circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, weight and height). This study observed that 5.79% and 5.2 % (%age of median Height for age), 9.09 and 1.02 (z score Weight for age), 58.68% and 0% (BMI) are severely malnourished in Area 1 (Agra urban area of Malakand) and Area 2 (Mela mandra khel urban area of Lakki Marwat), respectively. The main factors contributing to under five child malnutrition were found to be (hand wash before eating, wash raw edible fruits and vegetables, kind of toilet facilities household have and lack of proper food). Policies and intervention strategies focused on enhancing childhood nutrition and health should target the identified risk factors in these areas of Pakistan.