Nutritional Status of Under Five Children and its Associated Factors in Urban Slums of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Child malnutrition is a major contributor to the global burden of disease, significantly affecting vulnerable children living in substandard environmental conditions of poverty-stricken urban slums. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of nutritional status and identify associated factors in the urban slums of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 small urban slums of Kathmandu Valley among children aged 6-59 months. Standard anthropometric measurement tools were used to measure the height and weight of children.  Structured questionnaires were used to collect data through direct interviews and household visits. A descriptive analysis of variables and a chi-square test was used to find the association.

Results: The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 34.9% [95% CI: 25.8-44], 14.2% [95% CI: 7.6-20.8], and 30.2% [95% CI: 21.4-33] respectively. Both being underweight and stunting were found significantly associated with socioeconomic status of the family and ethnicity. Underweight was found significantly associated with the age of child and stunting was found significantly associated with the educational status of the mother and the age of child.

Conclusions: The study found a high prevalence of stunting and underweight in the urban slums of Kathmandu Valley. Socio-economic status, ethnicity, age of the child, and maternal education were found to be associated with malnutrition in children.