Prevalence and Factors Associated with Protein Energy Malnutrition among Pre School Children in Rural Areas
Rachana M N *
Department of Processing and Food Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur – 584104, Karnataka, India.
Ningaraj Belagalla
Department of Entomology, Sampoorna International Institute of Agri.Science and Horticulture Technology, Belekere, Mysore University, India.
Jagadeesh M S
Division of Agricultural Economics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Shilpa Huchchannanavar
Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Hagari-583111, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, India.
Srinatha, T. N.
Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR -Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Somashekar K S
AICRP on Sunflower, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore-65, India.
Aparna Srivastava
Era University, Lucknow, India.
Manish Kapoor
Department of Botany, Punjabi University Patiala-147002, Punjab, India.
Sanjay Hazarika
Department of Entomology, AAU, Jorhat, Assam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Children, particularly those in rural areas, are among the most vulnerable to malnutrition, a silent emergency recognized by organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This study delves into the complexities of undernutrition, specifically Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM), among pre-school children aged 3-6 years in rural regions. The research aims to estimate the prevalence of PEM, identify associated factors, and analyze various feeding practices contributing to malnutrition. Data collection was conducted through survey methods, encompassing 3-6-year-old children, revealing alarming statistics. Findings from 20 article papers underscored that 27.96% of pre-school children were underweight, with 6.71% severely underweight. Notably, 42.78% of children lacking energy-dense foods, as per Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), experienced malnutrition. Additionally, more than one-third of children suffered from underweight due to PEM. The study highlights the elevated risk of malnutrition among children with low birth weights, shorter interpregnancy intervals, higher birth orders, and inadequate breastfeeding and immunization practices. These insights underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the multifaceted challenges contributing to PEM among rural pre-school children.
Keywords: Protein energy malnutrition, rural children, pre-school, undernutrition, feeding practices, associated factors