Publication:

Prevalence of malnutrition, acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea in children aged 1-5 years in urban slums of Puducherry, South India

Background Aim of current study was to document the prevalence of malnutrition, burden of acute respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases in children aged 1-5 years in urban slums of South India.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Villianur municipal area of Puducherry district, South India. A semi-structured pretested interview schedule was used to collect information on demographic details of the family, episodes of ARI and diarrhoea and health seeking behaviour. Anthropometric measurements were also done.

Results A total of 242 children were studied. The prevalence of stunting and wasting was 25.2% and 12.2 % respectively. Nearly 60% reportedly had at least one episode of ARI (144/242) and one-fourth had at least one episode of diarrhoea (60/242; 24.8%) in the last three months prior to the interview. There were no sex based differences in the treatment seeking practices.

Conclusions Considerable burden of malnutrition, ARI and diarrhoea exists in children of this urban slum. Health seeking behaviour was appropriate.