Background:
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in under-5
children is an important
public health problem that is associated with high
mortality and long-term
health consequences. Globally, 26 million
children suffer from SAM, of these more than 8.1 million
children are in
India. National
Family Health Survey-4 indicates a higher
prevalence of SAM (7.5%) in the general
population than the previous
report (6.4%). Indeed the burden of
malnutrition is expected to be higher among the tribal
children in
India. Hence this study aimed to explore the
Severe Acute Malnutrition among the tribal under-five
children in Javvadu Hills of Tamil Nadu.
Methods:
A
community-based
cross-sectional survey was conducted among 450 tribal under-five
children and
mothers residing in Javvadu Hills in Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu from September 2019 to Feb 2020 using PPS-
Cluster sampling technique with semi-structured
questionnaire with anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed using SPSS.
Chi-square test and
logistic regression were used.
Results:
Out of 450
children, about 42(9.3%) had weight-for-Ht (M<-3S.D.) suggestive of SAM. Among those with SAM, 71% were
females. About 66% had
low birth weight, 79% were Anemic, 81% had calorie and
protein inadequacy, 88.1% were partially immunized and 88% had
food insecurity and 78% had the recurrent illness. Maternal
illiteracy, poor
awareness of
nutrition,
Food insecurity and poor access to
health facilities were significant factors in SAM.
Conclusions:
SAM is highly prevalent among tribal
children, a serious threat to
child survival and
morbidity. Improving
literacy,
Socioeconomic status, nutritional
awareness,
food security,
health-seeking behaviour
will alleviate this
public health problem.