Publication:

Morbidity profile of preschool children in rural area of central Madhya Pradesh

Background The children of Preschool age are a vulnerable or special risk group in any population, deserving special health care. Major causes of death in the age group 0-5 years are preventable. Objective of this study was to study the morbidity profile of preschool children (0-5 years) in the rural areas and its association with some selected variables.

Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among preschool children of rural areas for a period of 4 months. A sample size of total 400 children was selected and the children were examined after interviewing mother.

Results Morbidity was found in 217 out of total 400 children. The male and female ratio of morbid children was 1.47:1. The respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases together accounted for 76.5% of children at least once in three month.

Conclusions Communicable diseases were the commonest cause of morbidity in the preschool children. A total of 164 children were found having one of the episodes of illness in last three month.