A Study to Assess the Association between Malnutrition and Anemia in Underfive Children by Using two Binary Variables of Haemoglobin Crest and Low Height for Age and Low Degree of Malnutrition at Nerkundram

: Background: Anemia, which is characterized by low level of hemoglobin in the blood, is one of the major public health hazards affecting people in both developed and developing countries. Anemia may occur at all stages of life, however, young children and women in the childbearing age are the most vulnerable. When anemia occurs in children, it could affect their cognitive performance and physical growth In women, anemia could adversely affect their capacity to work and may lead to poor pregnancy outcomes. Methodology: Data collection was done in selected community area of Nerkundram, for a period of 1 week. The investigator obtained written permission from the Principal, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai and in charge of selected community area, Nerkundram. An oral consent was obtained from the samples prior to the study. The purpose of the study was explained to the subjects. The samples who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 200 samples for the study. Everyday 25 samples were selected and collected data from them. Demographic data was collected by administering the structured tool and the biochemical variable hemoglobin was assessed clinically. The data collected were then coded and entered in Excel for further data analysis and interpretation. Results: 200 in total Participants finished this research. After 1 weeks, The present study assessed the association between malnutrition and anemia in underfive children by using two binary variables of haemoglobin crest and low height for age and low degree of malnutrition. The study concluded that most of the underfive children had moderate to mild anemia and the parents of underfive had to be educated on malnutrition and the steps to prevent anemia.


INTRODUCTION
Malnutrition is a man-made disease.It is a disease of human society.It begins quite commonly in the womb and ends in the grave.Jelliffe listed the ecological factors related to malnutrition as follows: conditioning influences, cultural influences, socioeconomic factors, food production and nutritional status of women of child-bearing age, nutritional status of pregnant woman, nutritional status of lactating women, health and other service (Sandeep B, Harisha G, Susheela C, 2017).Nutrition is the cornerstone of socioeconomic development of the country.Usually referred to as a silent emergency, it has devastating effects on children, society and future human kind (Hassam.SL, Mahmood UR, et al., 2010).Nutritional assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programs to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with under-nutrition.In children, malnutrition is more likely to strike those who lack nutritionally adequate diets, are not protected from frequent illnesses and do not receive adequate care.Factors pertaining to shelter, women's workload and decision making opportunities, traditional beliefs and practices and men's attitude towards child care contribute to malnutrition and eventually to maternal and child deaths (Singh R, Bhatnagar M, Mathur B, Singh H, & Kr Y, 2010).. Iron deficiency is the most frequently occurring disorder worldwide and is affecting almost all physiological groups; of them pre-school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers are more vulnerable.Iron deficiency in young children can impair their physical growth and cognitive functions such as learning memory and attention process and adversely increase the childhood morbidity and mortality (Arlappa N, Balakrishna N, Laxmaiah A, Brahmam GNV, 2014).

CONCLUSION
The present study assessed the association between malnutrition and anemia in under-five children by using two binary variables of hemoglobin crest and low height for age and low degree of malnutrition.The study concluded that most of the under-five children had moderate to mild anemia and the parents of under-five had to be educated on malnutrition and the steps to anemia.

7004 METHODOLOGY
Data collection was done in selected community area of Nerkundram, for a period of 1 week.The investigator obtained written permission from the Principal, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai and in charge of selected community area, Nerkundram.An oral consent was obtained from the samples prior to the study.The purpose of the study was explained to the subjects.The samples who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected.The purposive sampling technique was used to select 200 samples for the study.Everyday 25 samples were selected and collected data from them.Demographic data was collected by administering the structured tool and the biochemical variable hemoglobin was assessed clinically.The data collected were then coded and entered in Excel for further data analysis and interpretation.RESULT AND DISCUSSION SECTION A: DESCRIPTION OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF UNDERFIVE CHILDREN.
level of anaemia among underfive children SECTION C: ASSOCIATION OF LEVEL OF MALNUTRITION AND ANEMIA WITH SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC AND dietary habits (2=6.375,p=0.041) had shown statistically association with level of anemia among underfive children at p<0.05 level.The clinical variables weight for age (2=11.918,p=0.018) and degree of malnutrition(2=6.768,p=0.034) had shown statistically significant association with level of anemia among underfive children at p<0.05 level respectively.The other demographic and clinical variables did not show statistically significant association with level of anemia among underfive children.

Table 1 : Frequency and percentage distribution of demographic variables of underfive children.
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