Effect of nutritional counselling for using anthropometric indices among Indians

Malnutrition in children under 5 years is a major public health problem in developing countries. Malnutrition complex comprises of under-nutrition including multiple conditions like acute, chronic malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and nutrition related to obesity. Therefore, it is of interest to report data on the individualized nutritional counselling on nutritional status among mild to moderately malnourished children aged 2 - 5 years at one, three and six month follow up. Their dietary habits will help to determine the aetiology of mild/moderate malnutrition.150 Children attending outpatient department of the Department of Paediatrics of D Y Patil Medical College and admitted with mild/moderate malnutrition were included in the study after taking informed consent from their parents. The children were randomly allocated into 4 groups (group 1 - 4). The groups consisted of children where dedicated nutritional counselling was provided at 1 month, 1 and 3 month follow up and where-in no dedicated counselling was provided. A diet chart was provided with counselling. Group 4 followed up with routine care without any dietary intervention. Detailed dietary, socio economic history, clinical examination with anthropometry was done followed-up at 1, 3, 6 months from date of inclusion. Majority (57.3%) belonged to lower socio-economic class according to Kuppuswamy scale. The mean birth weight was 2.4 kg, age 34.5 months and age of weaning 7.6 months. Data shows that 70% children had mild malnutrition and 30% moderate malnutrition. At 6 month follow up amongst 105 children with mild malnutrition, 82 still had mild malnutrition, 4 normal, 19 had moderate malnutrition. Under-five childhood malnutrition is highly prevalent in poor socioeconomic strata of the society. Nutritional counselling provided by trained healthcare providers in existing settings are effective in improving nutritional status, daily calorie/protein intake, prevention of malnutrition. Prevention/treatment of co-existing illness bears equal importance.