Project Materials

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study 

The individual’s nutritional status is determined by the discrepancy between food intake and utilisation. Nutritional status will either directly or indirectly reflect changes in food consumption and biological utilisation. Undernutrition, overnutrition, or adequate nutritional status are all possible.

Malnutrition is defined as both inadequate and excessive nutrition. A number of reasons, including as the primary care provider’s hectic schedule or the inability to offer enough food and necessary medical treatment to maintain normal nutritional status, may have an impact on the under-five child’s nutritional condition.

The factors influencing nutritional status might vary by area, community, or even time. Determining the nutritional status and the underlying causes is crucial in order to provide the appropriate recommendations or address any nutritional issues in a given location.

Governmental and non-governmental organisations have worked to maintain normal nutritional status both domestically and abroad, yet inadequate nutrition is still a major cause of disease and a shorter life expectancy.

Mamulwar, Rathod, Jethani, Dhone, Bakshi, Lanjewar, et al. (2014) state that 25% of children under five suffer from stunting. Numerous elements have been linked to affect nutritional status.

Disease and poor nutrition are viewed as immediate causes, but there are also underlying causes, like as food security, the mother’s nurturing behaviours, a healthy environment, and the evaluation of medical facilities.

According to Asegedech (2014), the fundamental causes of the underlying causes are also thought to be socioeconomic and political circumstances.

Since this stage of life is thought to be crucial for proper growth, the nutritional status of children under five is extremely important (Badake, Maina, Mboganie, Muchemi, Kihoro, Chelimo, & Mutea, 2014).

A serious medical disease known as undernutrition is defined by a lack of bodily nutrition (energy, vital proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals in a diet) due to insufficient food intake or improper digestion.

Every year, diseases that are preventable and even easily treat claim the lives of almost 10 million children under the age of five. Due to their weak economies, developing nations account for the majority of these diseases and fatalities (Black, Morris & Bryce, 2003).

More than 30% of all children under five die from malnutrition (United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2009). Badake, Maina, Mboganie, Muchemi, Kihoro, Chelimo, and Mutea (2014) state that measuring children’s growth is a useful way to examine their development. It also provides information about local food security and evaluates quality health care.

In order to enhance nutrition, several programs and interventions in various areas have been required due to poor nutritional status. Following this, professionals from a variety of disciplines are planning and assessing diverse nutrition-related interventions (Macias & Glasauer, 2014).

One of the simplest ways to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition-focused programs is to evaluate nutritional status, which may be done in a number of ways.

Determining a person’s nutritional status requires a thorough understanding of their diet and the factors that influence their eating habits. Numerous factors can then be linked to the nutritional status.