Nutritional Status among 6-59 Months Children in a Selected Community of a VDC

INTRODUCTION: Adequate nutrition is essential for proper growth and development of the child. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study to find the prevalence of nutritional status of 6-59 month old Tharu children in Duruwa of Dang District. This study also deliberates the socioeconomic and demographic character, maternal and child character and child feeding status of the Tharu community children. METHODS: This study was a descriptive cross sectional study and was done between February and March, 2017 in Tharu community of Duruwa, Dang. Total 189 children of age group 6-59 months were selected by using systematic random sampling technique; anthropometric measurements were performed to find the nutritional status of children. Pre-coded questionnaire was used to collect information from caretaker. WHO Anthro version 3.2.2 and SPSS version 20 were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight were 25 (13.2%), 51 (27%), and 40 (21.2%) respectively. The prevalence of stunting was seen more in females than in males while underweight was higher among males, whereas wasting was very similar in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that there is still high prevalence of malnutrition in Tharu children of Duruwa so monitoring of nutrition status in Tharu children should be taken seriously and needs to be addressed.