RESUMO
Background: Malnutrition is a major public health problem. It continues to be a primary cause of ill health and mortality among children in developing countries. Preschool age is an important stage of life where the nutrition plays an important role and has long lasting effects in the later years of life. Hence the objective of the present study was to assess the nutritional and health status of under-five children covered under the ICDS project.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during March 2013-February 2014 among 846 children attending the rural and urban anganwadi centers of Karimnagar ICDS project. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data and was analyzed using Epi info version 7 and valid inferences were drawn.Results: It was observed in the present study that females (53.5%) were more compared to boys (46.5%), out of the total sample surveyed. In this study 87.6% were completely immunized and 12.4% were partially immunized. According to IAP classification of malnutrition, 27.7% children were mildly malnourished, 16.5% were moderately malnourished, 3.9 % were severely malnourished and 0.9 % was very severely malnourished.Conclusions: High prevalence of malnutrition was observed among children in both urban and rural area warrants urgent attention. ICDS projects should be periodically studied to evaluate the impact of interventions. Further exploratory studies are required to find of several risk factors of malnutrition.
RESUMO
Background: Family planning in which the major component is use of contraceptive methods is a key constituent of health services. The growing use of contraception around the world has given couples the ability to have child as they wish and has tremendous life-saving benefits. Therefore, the current study was conducted to assess the family planning practice among the couples of reproductive age group in the field practice areas.Methods: A cross - sectional study was conducted during February 2013-January 2014 among the couples residing in the field practice study areas. A semi-structured questionnaire regarding practices towards family planning was administered to 406 couples of the study area.Results: It has been observed that about, 250 (61.6%) couples were practicing contraception, while 156 (38.4%) were not practicing any method. There was no statistically significant difference observed between the family planning practices of couples in rural and urban area (p=0.54).Conclusions: The study revealed that most of the couples were practicing at least one family planning method with marginal difference in urban and rural area. Among those who were practicing, most common method was tubectomy followed by vasectomy, OCPs and IUDs and most of them were satisfied regarding the adopted method. Sustained efforts on dissemination of information, providing education and increasing communication with couple in reproductive ages and improved family welfare service along with regular availability of contraceptive level would also help in improving adoption and use of family planning measures.