Determinants of nutrition among children aged 1-5 years attending a Taluk Hospital in Bengaluru Urban District – a Cross-sectional study

Undernutrition is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among children under-5 in developing countries. Undernutrition includes underweight, stunting, and wasting. Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 35.5%, 32.1%, and 27.0% respectively in India (NFHS-5). Factors contributing to undernutrition include socio-demographic factors, insufficient diet, and recurrent infections. This study aims to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and explore the socio-demographic factors impacting nutrition in children under five years old among under-5 children in a taluk hospital in Bengaluru Urban district. This study was conducted among 250 under-5 children attending the Anekal Taluk Hospital, Bengaluru Urban district from June 2023 to August 2023. A structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic and nutritional details was administered, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. The median age of the children was 2.0 years (IQR:1.0-3.0). Overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among children was found to be 42.0%, 28.8%, and 17.6% respectively. A significantly higher proportion of vegetarian children [OR 1.827(1.017-3.284)] were underweight. Junk food consumption among children [OR 1.991(1.007-3.935)] was found to be significantly associated with stunting. Undernutrition was significantly higher in children born with low birth weight (p<0.05). This study revealed that low birth weight of the child, maternal dietary habits, and educational levels were significant factors contributing to undernutrition. It is imperative to ensure reinforcing corrective measures are reinforced to fulfil improvement in child nutrition.