Volume : 4, Issue : 7, July - 2015

COMMUNITY BASED STUDY ON ASSOCIATION OF COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING AND MALNUTRITION IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF ALIGARH

Dr Saira Mehnaz, Prof. Zulfia Khan, Prof. Najam Khalique, Prof. Ali Amir

Abstract :

<p>Introduction: Reduction of child malnutrition is one of the prime challenges that India faces. Nearly 60 million Indian children are estimated to be underweight. Timely complementary feeding is one of the important predictors of under nutrition. Methods: This community based cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in the field practice areas of the Rural and Urban health training centres of the Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. A sample of 700 children under two years of age was chosen for the study. Results: Only 48% children started complementary feeding on time.Total malnourished children in the study population were 82.4%.There were significant rural urban differences in Knowledge, attitude and practices of Complementary feeding. Conclusion: Grade IV malnutrition was maximum in the age group of 12-24 months , highest percentage of late intake of complementary food was also observed in more than 12 months children.</p>