Nutritional status and morbidity profile of institutionalized children in an urban slum of Mumbai city

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and morbidity profile of institutionalized children in an urban slum of
Mumbai city.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in institutionalized children at Mankhurd, Mumbai during the period of October 2006 to
September 2007. A total of 313 children in the age group between 6 to 18 years living in an institution were interviewed and examined. A pretested
interview tool was used to collect necessary information such as socio-demographic profile, morbidity profile and nutritional status of the
children. Results were analysed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version -12.0
Results: In the present study, out of the 313 children taken into consideration, 179 (57.18%) were girls and 134 (42.82%) were boys. In this
study, majority 139 (44.4%) of the children had dental caries as a major ailment, followed by 50 (15.9%) skin ailments and 32 (10.3%) ear
problems. For the nutritional status, 114 (36.4%) children were undernourished. Among the undernourished children, 77 (24.6%) belonged to
grade I, 23 (7.3%) to grade II and 11 (3.5%) to grade III malnutrition.
Conclusion: In this study, considering the poor nutritional status and related morbidities an intervention focusing health education efforts based
on local epidemiology and behavioral practices is needed.