Prevalence of malnutrition and its association with pica, in children of tehsil Lawa, District Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract:
Objectives:

To estimate the frequency of pica and malnutrition in children
To compare the malnutrition in pica versus non-pica patients.
Methods: A cross sectional study of 1014 children between ages of 2 to 14 years was conducted. Sample size was taken using online Rao-soft calculator. Growth indicating parameters for nutritional assessment in children was taken as per WHO standards. Data was analyzed and tabulated results were generated using SPSS 21 software.
Results: Out of 1014 children included in the study, 597 (58.88%) were male and 417 (41.42%) were females. The overall mean age of the study population was 47.23 ± 36.17 months. Prevalence of malnutrition and pica in children under study was 34.8% and 37.2% respectively. Pica behavior was predominant in males as compared to females (55.2% vs 44.82%). Malnourishment was also prevalent in males as compared to female patients (54.39% vs 45.6%). This study shows that odds for exhibiting pica behavior is 7.9 times more in a malnourished child as compared to normally nourished child.
Conclusion: Pica behavior and malnutrition is prevalent in about one third of children of under 15 years age and there is strong association between pica behavior and malnutrition in these children.
Key words:  Pica, malnourishment, growth indicators, Talagang, Pakistan