ABSTRACT
Perceptions and practices of mothers regarding child feeding vary depending upon their education, socioeconomic and cultural background. The objective of current study was to see the perceptions and practices of nutrition in mothers of malnourished children. It was also aimed to ascertain malnutrition due to poverty versus ignorance. It was a retrospective study. A total 200 malnourished children from children OPD, aged 6 months to 3 years were included in this study. History was taken regarding breast feeding, weaning, ORS preparation and care of children. Physical examination was carried out to assess the nutritional status and grade of malnutrition. Weaning age at enrollment of 18 [9%] children was 4 months, 9 [4.5%] children was 5 months, 105 [52.5%] children was 6 months, 34 [17%] children was 7 months while weaning age of 34 [17%] children was 8 months. Children being inadequately fed on food were 178 [89%]. Hundred percent children had history of an illness in the past. One hundred and sixty three [81.5%] of the mothers had heard about ORS but did not know how to prepare it. Only37 [18.5%] of the mothers had full knowledge about preparation of ORS. It was concluded that poverty alone is not the only factor in causing malnutrition. Ignorance is an important factor in child malnutrition. Nutritional education should be given to the mothers to eradicate malnutrition in the children
ABSTRACT
Twenty four hours urine albumin is frequently used for prediction of the extent of nephropathy. Spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio has been recently introduced as an alternative to 24 hours urine albumin. Aims and objectives of the current study were to compare and contrast 24 hours urine albumin and spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio as a predictor of nephropathy. Two hundred cases of diabetes were selected for 24 hours urine albumin and spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio. Urine samples containing RBC 's or pus cells were excluded from the study. Twenty four hours urine albumin was estimated by pyrogallol method. First morning urine specimen was used for albumin to creatinine ratio. Creatinine was estimated by Jaffe reaction on semi-automated analyzer. Results revealed that mean 24 hours urine albumin was 693 mg/24 hours [reference range < 30 mg/24 hours], while mean albumin to creatinine ratio was 22.7 mg/mmol [reference range < 3 mg/mmol]. Fifty seven cases were having microalbuminuria, 103 cases had macroalbuminuria whereas 40 cases had normal urine albumin. Forty eight cases showed albumin to creatinine ratio in the normal range, 88 cases in microalbuminuria range while 64 cases had albumin to creatinine ratio in macroalbuminuric range. Correlation of 24 hours urine albumin versus urine albumin to creatinine ratio was 0.97, p value < 0.01. It was concluded that there was no significant difference between 24 hours urine albumin and spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio as a predictor of nephropathy, besides yielding immediate results and spot convenient sampling. It is recommended that spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio is a simple, clear, attractive and right predictor of nephropathy and can safely replace 24 hours urine sample for convenience of the patient, pathologist as well as the physician