Prevalence of malnutrition in a well baby clinic

ABSTRACT

A retrospective study was done in children between 0-5 years of age attending the well baby clinic in the Civil Hospital Karachi outpatient department. The period of study was between 1979-1981 [3 years] and was done to determine the average weight for age of these children. The average weights of children between 0-3 months and 4-9 months fell above the 80[th] percentile [Harvard standard]. Between 10-24 months it was above 50[th] percentile ad between 2-5 years it was between 80-90[th] percentile. Next an attempt was made to ascertain the percentage of malnutrition found in these children according to Gomez's criteria. The overall percentage was 29.7% 31.2% and 16.7% of grade I, II AND III PEM respectively with only 22.2% children having a normal weight for age. The breakdown of cases in different age group revealed a similar distribution. This study highlights the presence of malnutrition [according to weight] seen in well babies in sick children this problem is more pronounced it reinforces our concern finding children at risk in such follow up clinics and preventing PEM from becoming severe