WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Fauzia Jawaid Kazi*, Pooja Thakur, Merlin Monica Ebenezer, Aakanksha Gautum, Akanksha Yadav, Amrita Preeti, Anchal, Angie Kimpineng, Anjali, Anjali Jaiswal, Ankita Bhardwaj, Annu Bharti, Anoshka Roychan and Anupam Kumari

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The world health organization (WHO) defines malnutrition as cellular imbalance between the supply of nutrient and energy and body demands for them to ensure growth, maintenance and specific function. India experiencing a malnutrition burden among its under - five population. As of 2015, the national prevalence of under-five stunting is 37.9%, which is greater than the developing country average of 25%. India’s under-five wasting prevalence of 20.8% is also greater than the developing country average of 8.9%. Objective: Objectives of the study are- To assess the knowledge regarding malnutrition among the parents of under five children. To assess the attitude regarding malnutrition among the parents of under five children. To correlate the knowledge and attitude regarding malnutrition among the parents of under five children. To find out the association between knowledge and attitude regarding malnutrition with selected demographic variables of parents of under five children. Methodology: The non-experimental descriptive design was adopted convenient sampling technique was adopted to select 100 parents. The knowledge of parents of under five children regarding malnutrition was assessed by using online google form. Structured questionnaire tool is used for data collection. In data collection questions were asked, knowledge and attitude was assessed. The data obtained from the study subjects were analysed and interpreted in terms of objectives and assumptions of the study. Result: The findings of the study result shows majority 41% of parents were in age group of 20 – 25 years, 39% were in 26 – 30 years, 20% were in 31 – 35 years of age group. Majority 51% of samples were mothers, and 49% were fathers. Majority 69% of samples were married, 31% were single parents. Majority 92% of samples were Hindu, 2% of Muslim, 4% were Christian and 2% others were found. Majority 80% of samples were from urban area, 20% were from rural area. Majority 32% of samples have income less than 10,000, 25% had in between 10,000 – 15,000, 14% had in between 15000 – 20,000 and 29% had an income of more than 20,000. Majority 64% of samples were living in a joint family, 34% in nuclear family and 2% in extended family. Majority 36% of samples were private employee, 23% self-employed, 21% employed and 18% in government service were found. Majority 70% of samples have mixed type of food pattern, 16% vegetarian and 14% non-vegetarian were found. Majority of samples receives information from friends and family, 25% from mass media, 23% from health professionals and 11% with no information were found. 77% of the samples obtained shows there is good knowledge among parents of under-five children regarding malnutrition, 21% has average knowledge and 2 % has poor knowledge. 74% of the samples obtained has positive attitude and 26% has negative attitude towards malnutrition. Conclusion: Malnutrition in children is one of the most important social and health problem that is faced by the young children in the modern world, therefore, we conducted this study to assess the knowledge and attitude of parents of under-five children. Our finding strengthen the fact, that giving a balanced diet to a child will lead to a better growth and development, along with, adequate breastfeeding and nutrition in children.

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