Factors affecting nutritional status of Anganwadi children: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16, 35.7% children below 5 years of age are underweight. In light of Malnutrition rates still remaining alarming in children, it becomes pertinent to elicit the factors that affect nutritional status of children. So, this study was undertaken. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After obtaining ethical approval from institutional ethics committee, data were collected on a pretested questionnaire. Information from mothers of 1085 children attending Anganwadi center in an urban block of Patiala was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Among females, 35.85% were underweight, whereas the proportion for males was 28.68%. The proportion among immunized children who were underweight was 31.34%, whereas the proportion among unimmunized children was 38.91%. Those who received supplementary nutrition were also in more in numbers in normal weight range than those who did not. CONCLUSION: Gender, birth order, and immunization status of child are significantly associated with nutritional status. This study showed that prevalence of malnutrition was less among those who received supplementary nutrition as compared to ones who did not.