Evaluation of Growth Status among the Children aged 1 to 5years using various Anthropometric Indices

ABSTRACT: Background: Child undernutrition including stunting, wasting, and underweight reflects underlying health disparities and socio economic challenges. This study aims to assess the growth status by using various anthropometric measurement indices among the male and female children belonging to the specific age group of 1 to 5 years. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving221 children aged 1 to 5 years from the southern districts of West Bengal namely North 24 Parganas and Hooghly. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), were collected. Undernutrition was measured by assessing stunting (height-for-age Z-score < -2), wasting (weight-for-height Z-score < -2), and underweight (weight-for-age Z-score < -2). CIAF (Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure) was utilized as a comprehensive identity tool for the measurement of anthropometric failure along with other anthropometric indices like stunting index, wasting index and underweight index. Result: Among the children under study, the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was 19.5%, 22.6%, and 26.2%, respectively. Compared to male children, female children were more likely to be underweight (30.4%). Female children exhibited a slightly higher prevalence of stunting (20%) compared to male children (19%). Approximately 28% of female children suffered from wasting, which is higher compared to that of male children (17%). Conclusion: It can be concluded that prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were considerably high among the under 5 years old children in the southern districts of West Bengal, India, both in terms of conventional method (WHO growth standards) and other precise methods like CIAF, SI, UI and WI.