Singh Ritu - Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Community Medicine and Anaesthesiology, Andaman Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences, Port Blair, Andamans, India.
Rao Shivani - Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Community Medicine and Anaesthesiology, Andaman Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences, Port Blair, Andamans, India.
Thatkar Vithal Pandurang - Tutor cum Statistician, Department of Pediatrics, Community Medicine and Anaesthesiology, Andaman Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences, Port Blair, Andamans, India.
Narayanan Rajaram - Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Community Medicine and Anaesthesiology, Andaman Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences, Port Blair, Andamans, India.

Background: Malnutrition in children is a major public health problem in developing countries and is one of the common causes of mortality and morbidity in children. We aimed to determine the nutritional status of children aged ۲-۱۲ years of age using World Health Organisation(WHO) Z score for Weight for age (WFA)/Body Mass Index (BMI) for age (for children above ۱۰۸ months), and to evaluate association between underweight and various socio-demographic factors. Materials and Methods A total of ۴۴۴ children aged ۲-۱۲ years (۲۴-۱۴۴ months) were enrolled in the study. The children’s anthropometric measurements were taken using the standard operating procedures; the socio-demographic particulars were obtained using a pretested validated questionnaire, after obtaining written consent from their parents. The anthropometric data was analyzed using WHO Anthro and Anthro plus Softwares. Underweight and severe underweight was diagnosed if WFA Z score <= -۲ standard deviation [SD] and Results: Overall prevalence of under nutrition among the children ۲۴-۱۴۴ months of age was ۳۰.۸%. Among children in the age groups of ۲۴-۵۹ months, ۶۰-۱۱۹ months and ۱۲۰-۱۴۴ months, the prevalence of underweight/thinness was ۲۷.۹%, ۳۱.۳% and ۲۶.۴%, respectively. Severe underweight/thinness in the same age groups was ۷.۱%, ۱۰.۷%, and ۱۱.۳%, respectively. The socio- demographic factors significantly associated with underweight were education status of mother, occupation of father, number of siblings, type of family and religion (p<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Mild to moderate under nutrition was common among the children of the island and affects boys slightly more than girls, however, severe underweight is more prevalent in girls.

Children, India, Nutritional Status, Underweight