ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There are lots of studies focusing on the role of reproductive and child health factors and dietary factors on the nutrition status of the child. The present study is an attempt to highlight the role of macro- and micro-environmental factors in predicting the occurrence of undernutrition in children. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in field practice area of Community Medicine Department, PDU Medical College, Rajkot. The nutrition status of children was assessed using the weight for age WHO reference standards, 2006. Children below two standard deviation of the reference median (weight for age) were considered as malnourished. Data were collected for sociodemographic factors, sanitation, hygiene, and attitude of mother toward her child, etc., Data were entered in MS excel, and logistic regression was used. RESULTS: Analysis of 495 selected children showed 24% prevalence of undernutrition. Employment status of mothers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.65), drinking water quality (AOR 1.53), and cleanliness of mother's hands and clothes (AOR 1.91) significantly affected the nutrition status of the child. Children classified in fair or poor category for Briscoe's sanitation scale had 1.34 and1.92 times higher odds of being undernourished (P > 0.05), respectively. Children classified in fair or poor category for Elizabeth's microenvironment scale had 2.05 and 2.41 times higher odds of being undernourished (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Water, sanitation, and hygiene-related factors, as well as microenvironmental factors, significantly affected the nutrition status of the children.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) or goiter is the cause of preventable brain damage, mental retardation, and stunted growth and development in children. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of IDD in Rajkot district, India by testing urinary iodine excretion levels and iodine salt intake of school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2940 school children of both sexes aged 6-12 years from 14 talukas subdivisions of the district. Thirty clusters were selected by using cluster sampling technique. Goiter was assessed in all the studied children along with biochemical analysis of iodine in 420 urine samples and iodine content in 840 edible salt samples in the studied area. RESULTS: Goiter was reported from all talukas subdivisions of the studied area. Goiter prevalence ranged from 1% to 35%, and the overall prevalence was 8.8% (grade 1: 7.6%; grade 2: 1.2%), indicating a mild public health problem. In the study areas, 18.1% of the population showed a level of urinary iodine excretion <50 microg/L. The median level of urinary iodine in the studied areas was 110 microg/L (range 10-415 microg/L). The iodine level of more than 15 ppm was found in 81% of salt samples tested at the household level. CONCLUSION: There is mild goiter prevalence in primary school children of Rajkot district, which is due to the inadequate iodine intake or content from salt at the household level.
