By: SK ANAMUL HOQUE, SUMANA DAS, SHAGUFTA NAAZ, MAHFUJ ANSARY, MD ANISUJJAMAN
Child undernutrition is a critical public health emergency in developing nations, including India. Undernourished children suffer from reduced IQ, stunted growth, and increased morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the link between socio-economic status and undernutrition among rural Muslim preschoolers in Purulia-II CD block, West Bengal, India. Conducted as a cross-sectional survey among 1 to 5-year-old Muslim children, 250 samples were gathered from local villages. In these villages, 10% of households with children under five were chosen for data collection. A logistic regression model identified socio-economic factors linked to undernutrition. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO growth standards, with <-2 z-score values denoting stunting, underweight, and wasting. The findings reveal stunting, wasting, and underweight rates at 46.80%, 9.60%, and 28.40%, respectively, indicating a very high prevalence and poor situation among the children studied. Factors such as birth order, household size, type, income, parental education, sanitation facilities, and housing significantly influence child undernutrition.
