A SURVEY REPORT ON THE RATE OF

MALNUTRITION IN ANGANWADI’S
CHILDREN

ABSTRACT
This cross sectional and descriptive analytical study was conducted on children about 1-4
years old in Anganwadi, belonging to rural region. Data were collected through measuring weight
height, BMI structural questionnaires, and face-to-face interviews with Angawadi worker. to
investigate, interrupt in the above factors that help to predict the nutrition level of the Anganwadi
pupil

INTRODUCTION
Generally, the context in which an individual lives is of great importance for both his health
status and quality of their life. It is increasingly recognized that health is maintained and improved
not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts
and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society. According to the World Health
Organization, the main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the
physical environment, and the person's individual characteristics and behaviors.

Malnutrition or malnourishment is a condition that results from eating a diet in which

nutrients are either not enough or are too much such that the diet causes health problems. It may
involve calories, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins or minerals. Not enough nutrients is called
undernutrition or undernourishment while too much is called over nutrition. Malnutrition is often
used specifically to refer to undernutrition where there are not enough calories, protein, or
micronutrients. If undernutrition occurs during pregnancy, or before two years of age, it may
result in permanent problems with physical and mental development. Extreme undernourishment,
known as starvation, may have symptoms that include: a short height, thin body, very poor
energy levels, and swollen legs and abdomen. People also often get infections and are frequently
cold. The symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies depend on the micronutrient that is lacking.

There were 793 million undernourished people in the world in 2015 (13% of the
total population). This is a reduction of 216 million people since 1990 when 23% were
undernourished. In 2012 it was estimated that another billion people had a lack of vitamins and
minerals. In 2013, protein-energy malnutrition was estimated to have resulted in 469,000
deaths—down from 510,000 deaths in 1990. Other nutritional deficiencies, which include iodine
deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, result in another 84,000 deaths. In 2010, malnutrition was
the cause of 1.4% of all disability adjusted life years. About a third of deaths in children are
believed to be due to undernutrition, although the deaths are rarely labelled as such. In 2010, it
was estimated to have contributed to about 1.5 million deaths in women and children, though
some estimate the number may be greater than 3 million.

Malnutrition is one of the important health problems throughout the world, particularly in
developing countries, which has undesirable effects on mental and physical health of children.
The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of malnutrition in children under 6 years old
in Privince South Khorasan, Iran, in 2007.

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is one of the most important nutritional diseases in developing
countries the prevalence of which has caused the mortality of children and their physical
disturbance; lack of economical and social development in these countries.Imbalance between food
intake and actual metabolic needs can cause clinical symptoms of PEM which is followed by a vast
range of clinical disorders in varying degrees.PEM, due to suitable cultural and economical
reasons, has more prevalence in developing countries.. This cross sectional and descriptive
analytical study was conducted on children about 1-4 years old in Anganwadi, belonging to rural
region. Data were collected through measuring weight and height, structural questionnaires, and
face-to-face interviews with Angawadi worker.
 METHODOLOGY

Method used for the study is the questionnaire, for that i was prepared a
questionnaire before the survey had done.The survey was conducted on the respected
anganwadi’s informations were collected from the anganwadi worker. This was the proper
method for the completion of this survey. For the purpose of this study, there are 16 girls and 15
boys in 3 different anganwadi where selected as the subjects. The age of the subjects ranges
between 1-5 years. The subjects were informed about the nature of the study and their consent
also taken before involving them as subject of this study.The respondent of this survey was the
anganwadi worker. For the collection of data, the investigator explained the procedure of the
testing the selected dependent variables and gave instructions about the procedure to be adopted
by them while measuring. It helped them to perform perfectly.

Scoring was done by arranging boys and girls according to their age in
different tables. On the Basis of the study of ICMR in 1990, were provide as Height /Weight
chart. According to the chart I gave ‘1’points for the pupil who were in under weight, and were
considerd as having malnutrition. And in the other case I had gave ‘2’ points for the pupil who
were in the normal weight. Then take the average of the points and draw bar diagrams in order
to create the ststistical data.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION

During the collection of data various strategies have been adopted. Height of
the individual has been measured using a Stadiometer. And a weighing machine is used for
measuring the weight of the subject concerned. As moving forward, an awareness is given to the
anganwadi worker that the questionnaire is the part of survey and the survey is the part of
curriculum of the studies. Then they were given the questionnaire and the opinions were
marked.The investigator supported the clients, whenever necessary while responding to the
questionnaire.

Based on the study of ICMR in 1990,they provides as Height /Weight chart .The
Assessment that I have drawn out based on the chart as mentioned above.

Average Height & Weight of Boys at different ages

AGE WEIGHT(kg) HEIGHT(cm) BMI

1yrs 10.2 76.1 17.6
2yrs 12.3 85.6 16.7
3yrs 14.6 94.9 16.2
4yrs 16.7 102.9 15.7
5yrs 18.7 109.9 15.5

Average Height & Weight of Girls at different ages

AGE WEIGHT(kg) HEIGHT(cm) BMI

1yrs 9.5 75 16.8
2yrs 11.8 84.5 16.5
3yrs 14.1 93.9 15.9
4yrs 16.0 101.6 15.5
5yrs 17.7 108.4 15
 The following table shows details about the height/weight and BMI and scoring of all the
boys in the 3 anganwadi’s.

SL.No Name Age Height(cm) Weight(kg) BMI Score

1 Jeron 2yrs-8mth 85 14.2 19.6 2

2 Akash Anand 2yrs-9mth 84.9 11.5 15.9 1

3 Anandu 2yrs-1mth 85 11.9 16.4 1

4 Alen Anvar 3yrs 93.2 13.5 15.5 1

5 Ajon Josi 3yrs-2mth 94.9 15.5 17.2 2

6 Arjun S 3yrs-2mth 94.9 14.6 16.2 2

7 Abhinav 3yrs-4mth 94 13.8 15.6 1

8 Saurav 3yrs-5mth 92.5 11.5 13.4 1

9 Rohit 3yrs-9mth 94 13.4 15.1 1

10 Adarsh S H 3yrs-11mth 93.9 13.2 14.9 1

11 Anaswar 4yrs 101.2 14.6 14.2 2

12 Adwaith 4yrs-2mth 102 15.4 14.8 2

13 Abhinand 4yrs-9mth 100 14.6 14.6 2

14 Anjith 4yrs-9mth 101 14.8 14.5 2

15 Adidev 4yrs-10mth 101.5 14.2 13.7 1

 The following table shows details about the height/weight and BMI of all the girls in the 3
anganwadi’s.

SL.No Name Age Height(cm) Weight(kg) BMI Score

1 Andrea 1yrs-3mth 75 10.5 18.6 2

2 Venus Vinu 1yrs-6mth 75.2 10.6 18.7 2

3 Anusree 1yrs-6mth 75 10.5 18.6 2

4 Josely 2yrs 82.5 10.5 15.4 2

5 Meghna 2yrs-4mth 82.5 9.5 13.9 1

6 Anaghamol 2yrs-5mth 83.2 10.6 15.3 2

7 Anuja 2yrs-9mth 84.5 12 16.8 2

8 Littleflower 2yrs-11mth 84.5 11.8 16.5 2

9 Nandana Rajesh 3yrs-7mth 90 12 14.8 1

10 Parvana 3yrs-7mth 92.9 12.2 14.1 1

11 Avany 3yrs-8mth 93.7 14.5 16.5 2

12 Akhila Raj 3yrs-8mth 93.2 13.6 15.6 2

13 Nayana 3yrs-8mth 93.9 16 18.1 2

14 Liyona 3yrs-9mth 91.2 11.2 13.4 1

15 Dilsha 3yrs-11mth 93 13.4 15.4 2

16 Vaishnavi 3yrs-11mth 93.5 13.5 15.4 2

SCORING AND ANALYSIS

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%
Healthy
40% Malnutrient

30%

20%

10%

0%
2yrs 3yrs 4yrs

The above bar diagram shows the average rate of percentage of pupils were well nutrient
and under nutrient in the anganwadi. This bar diagram is specifically for the boys of
different ages in the three anganwadi’s
 120%

100%

80%

60% Healthy
Malnutrient

40%

20%

0%
1yrs 2yrs 3yrs

The above bar diagram shows the average rate of percentage of pupils were well nutrient
and under nutrient in the anganwadi. This bar diagram is specifically for the girls of
different ages in the three anganwadi’s.

From the questionnaire survey I had get a chance to analyse that food items provided
by the anganwadi centre are included those ingredients such as ground nuts, jaggery
,rice, mung bean, wheat, black gram and coconut oil. The nutrient content of these
items are excellent

As in the case of 15 boy children about 47% of them are in good in nutrition and 53% are in a
condition of under nutrition.In the case of 16 girl children about 75% of them are in good in
nutrition and 25% of them are in under nutrition. From this result it is clear that the children
who were suffer malnutrition is not because of the food supplay by the anganwadi,because
they provide very good quality of food items.This is just because of the lack of awareness of
the parents about the nutrient rich food supplement .

As in conclusion most of the children in the anganwadi would get highly

nutritious food.Only because of the parents who were not aware about that what kind of food
items provided in the home for their children.
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