A Study to Assess the Nutritional Status of Pre-Primary Children (3-5 Years) through Anthropometric Assessment in Selected Private Schools of Shimla (H.P)

Abstract

This study has been undertaken to investigate screening for malnutrition in children. Nutritional intervention requires repeated measurements of nutritional status to assess severity and to keep track of progress over time. A quantitative descriptive research design was adopted, and a non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to select samples. Anthropometric parameters for assessing the nutritional status were carried out in the data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics did data analysis. The study's findings revealed that 51% of children were well-nourished, 44% were malnourished, and 5% were overweight. There is a significant association between the nutritional status and socio-demographic variable (Age, standard of the child, education of father) and no significant association between the nutritional status and other socio-demographic variables (Gender, Education of mother, Occupation of father, Occupation of mother, Type of family, Family income per month, Religion, Type of diet, Number of siblings, Meal is provided to the child by).