Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Risk factors for severe acute malnutrition in children below 5 y of age in India: a case-control study

Kirtisudha Mishra1, Praveen Kumar, Srikanta Basu

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, 110001, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|July 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal illiteracy, poor feeding practices, and incomplete immunization are key risk factors for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in North Indian children. Addressing these can improve child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a significant public health challenge in low-resource settings.
  • Identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial for effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the socio-demographic, feeding, and immunization-related risk factors associated with SAM in children under five in North India.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study comparing children with SAM to age-matched healthy controls.
  • Data collected on socio-demographic factors, infant feeding practices, and immunization status.
  • Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

  • Maternal illiteracy, low family income, large family size, lack of exclusive breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pre-lacteal feeding, and non-receipt of colostrum were significant risk factors.
  • Inconsistent complementary feeding, rather than timing or variety, influenced SAM occurrence.
  • Multivariate analysis identified maternal illiteracy, incomplete immunization, bottle feeding, inconsistent complementary feeding, colostrum deprivation, and pre-lacteal feeding as independent risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Specific factors including maternal education, infant feeding practices (exclusive breastfeeding, colostrum, complementary feeding consistency), and immunization status are critical targets for intervention.
  • Findings can inform targeted health policies and planning to reduce SAM prevalence in India.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Factors Affecting Illness01:18

Factors Affecting Illness

When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...