Mothers literacy status and its association with feeding practices and PEM among 1–5 year aged children in southern part of India, Mysore

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of PEM in children aged 1 to 5 years and to study the association of mothers educational status with feeding practices and nutritional status of children aged 1 to 5 years.MethodsA cross sectional study of 600 children of 1–5 year age group in urban slums of Mysore city was carried out with cluster random sampling method. The data was collected by using a predesigned and pretested proforma. Assessment of the nutritional status was done by clinical examination and anthropometry. WHO child growth standards, 2006 reference data were used to classify malnutrition.ResultsAmong 600 children examined, 285 (47.5%) were males and 315 (52.5%) were females. Exclusive breast feeding was given in 295 (49.2%) of children. Pre lacteal feeds and top milk feeds were given in 123 (20.5%) and 108 (18%) of children respectively. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was observed to be 31.3%, 42.2% and 14.2% respectively. About 12.8% of mothers were illiterate and this was significantly associated with feeding practices and nutritional status of children.ConclusionsMothers literacy status plays important role in feeding practices of their children which inturn is an important factor in determining the nutritional status of child.