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Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the effect of nutrition educational intervention on malnourished children’s nutritional status of age 6 months- 8 years in twin cities of Pakistan.
Study Design: The present study interventional study involving moderately malnourished children of age 6 months to 8 years. Study samples were selected randomly from outpatient pediatric department of tertiary hospital.
Methods: Total 150 children of both genders were included in this study from Islamabad and Rawalpindi region. 94 study samples were from age group 6 months – 5 years and 56 study samples were from age group 5 years – 8 years. Data were collected through interview-based questionnaire from mothers/caregivers to find out socio-demographic status, to evaluate height- for- age (stunting), weight- for- height (wasting) and weight- for- age (underweight) of children before and after intervention.
Results: Results proved improvement in underweight, wasting, mid-upper arm circumference and calorie intake amongst children after nutritional education intervention. The improvement level at the end of study varied significantly for weight (13.5 ± 3.6, 15.5 ± 4.1: p = 0.00), underweight (-1.762 ± 0.434, -0.662 ± 0.65; p=0.00), stunting (-0.827 ± 0.635, -0.712 ± 0.542; p=0.004) and wasting (-1.899 ± 0.616, -0.3490 ± 0.916; p=0.00) of children before intervention.
Conclusion: Results of this study provide suggested that nutrition education is an effective and inexpensive approach to reduce the frequency of child malnutrition