The impact of family milieu on the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition in infants
Nanda, S.
Indian Journal of Maternal and Child Health Official Publication of Indian Maternal and Child Health Association 7(1): 20-23
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0970-8928 PMID: 12320379 Document Number: 299547
In India's Varanasi district, a nutrition survey was conducted of 360 infants living in an urban unit of Sunderapur and two rural units of Kashividhyapeeth and Baragaon blocks to examine protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in these infants and the effect of family type on the prevalence of this type of malnutrition. 57% of children from extended families had PEM compared to 25% of those from nuclear families (p 0.001). PEM became more prevalent as family size increased (21.6% for family size of 5, 37.88% for family size of 5-10, and 74.76% for family size of 10; p 0.001). PEM was inversely related to maternal educational status. PEM was most prevalent in infants whose father belonged to the labor class and least prevalent in those whose father belonged to the service class (90.91% vs. 15.28%). Severe PEM was especially prevalent in infants whose father belonged to the labor class (36.37% vs. 9.89% for service and 6.89% for business classes). It was also more prevalent in infants from the poorest families (less than Rs. 100 per capita) than in the wealthiest families (more than Rs. 200) (51.35% vs. 43.17%). Severe PEM made up most of this difference.