NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE UNDER FIVE CHILDREN OF ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL
M C Kapilashrami1, R S Virk2, K Chatterjee3
1Director, NIH & FW, Formerly Professor of PSM at AFMC, New Delhi.
Insights
Children under five in Armed Forces families show superior anthropometric and hemoglobin status compared to the general population. This healthier nutritional status is linked to better environments and healthcare access.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Assessing the nutritional status of under-five children is crucial for early intervention.
- Understanding anthropometric and hemoglobin levels provides insights into child health.
- Military populations may have unique health profiles due to lifestyle and healthcare access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anthropometric and hemoglobin status of under-five children from Armed Forces families.
- To compare the nutritional indicators of this cohort with the general civil population.
- To identify factors contributing to the observed health status and suggest improvements.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 301 under-five children from Armed Forces families.
- Measurement of weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and hemoglobin levels.
- Comparison of anthropometric data against the Harvard median and established normal limits.
Main Results:
- Children exhibited superior weight, MUAC, and hemoglobin levels compared to general population data.
- 82.39% of children had weights above 80% of the Harvard median.
- 59.81% had hemoglobin levels of 11 gm/dl or higher, with 69.56% having normal MUAC.
Conclusions:
- Under-five children in the Armed Forces population demonstrate better nutritional status.
- A healthier environment and accessible healthcare contribute to this improved status.
- Enhancing Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services can further optimize child well-being.
Abstract:
Three hundred and one underfive children belonging to Armed Forces families were studied for their anthropometric and haemoglobin status. Their weights, MUAC and haemoglobin were superior as compared with the children in the general civil population as reported in various studies. 82.39% had weights above 80% of Harvard median. Chest circumference and head circumference crossing took place between 12-23 months. 69.56% had MUAC within normal limits and 59.81% had haemoglobin levels of 11 gm/dl or more. The healthier nutritional status of the underfives in the Armed Forces population is attributable to a healthier environment and an easy access to comprehensive health care facilities made available to them. It can be further improved by augmenting and modernising the MCH services with a view to provide quality care.
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