Salman Khalil

Dietary diversity and stunting among infants and young children: A cross-sectional study in Aligarh

Context: Child undernutrition is a public health problem in a developing country like India. Dietary diversity is an important immediate determinant of undernutrition. Aims: The aim of this study is to find the prevalence of stunting among infants and young children aged 6–23 months and its association with dietary diversity. Settings and Design: This study was community-based cross-sectional study. It was carried out in the registered families of the Urban Health Training Centre and Rural Health Training Centre, Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, Aligarh. Methods: A total of 326 children aged 6–23 months were included in the study. Study tools were predesigned and pretested questionnaire, modified infant and young child feeding practices questionnaire, and infantometer. Systematic random sampling with probability proportionate to size technique was utilized to drawn necessary sample size. Statistical analysis: Walds statistics, Z-scores, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression (LR) (stepwise backward LR) were used. Results: The prevalence of stunting in study population was 45.7% (95% CI - 40.1%, 51.1%); moderate stunting was 33.7% (95% CI - 28.8%, 39%); and severe stunting was 12% (95% CI - 8.8%, 16%). The prevalence of stunting was significantly associated with dietary diversity (OR - 0.17, 95% CI - 0.10–0.29) Conclusions: The study concludes that dietary diversity is a significant predictor of stunting. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving dietary diversity should be taken to reduce the burden of stunting among infants and young children.

Complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

Context: Complementary feeding practices play an important role in the growth and development of the children. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months and its association with various sociodemographic factors. Settings and Design: The study was a community-based, cross-sectional study conducted at field practice area of Urban Health Training Centre and Rural Health Training Centre, Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Materials and Methods: Mothers of children aged 6–23 months of age interviewed using the infant and young child feeding questionnaire for complimentary feeding indicators, namely, minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). The sample size drawn was 326 using systematic random sampling with probability proportionate to size. Statistical Analysis Used: Walds statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: MDD was adequate in 42.6% children, MMF in 50.9% children, and MAD in 35.6% children. MDD was significantly associated with area of residence, birth order of child, and Standard of living index (SLI); MMF was significantly associated with area of residence, sex of child, and literacy status of mother; MAD was significantly associated with area of residence, sex of child, birth order of child, and SLI. Conclusion: The study revealed that approximately 50% of mothers practiced inadequate complementary feeding. The feeding practices were found to be significantly associated with various sociodemographic factors highlighting the importance of addressing these factors if we aim an improvement in feeding practices.

Utilization of antenatal care services in periurban area of Aligarh

Background: Utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services is poor in the peri-urban areas, causing increased maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective: (i) To determine the current status of utilization of ANC services and (ii) to asses factors affecting utilization of ANC services. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in peri-urban field practice area of urban health training center, J N Medical College, Aligarh, India. The data were collected by home visit using a pretested, structured, semi-open questionnaire from 200 recently delivered women, who utilized ANC services. Data were tabulated and analyzed by using SPSS-20. Proportion, frequencies, and χ2-tests were used to interpret the data. Result: Full utilization of ANC services was found to be 59%. Home deliveries were 23% and all were conducted by untrained persons. Utilization of ANC services was significantly associated with education, socioeconomic status, parity, and age at marriage. Main reasons for inadequate (partial/no) utilization of ANC services were financial constrains (34.14%) and lack of awareness (30.48%), whereas for home deliveries it was tradition (23.91%) and financial constrains (21.74%). Conclusion: Utilization of ANC services was not satisfactory and home deliveries by untrained person were still present. Prevailing barriers to utilization of ANC services and institutional deliveries must be identified and taken into consideration in planning and policy making.

An epidemiological study of cataract among elderly population in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Cataract is one of the major causes of avoidable blindness in India. The burden of cataract among the elderly population needs to be assessed therefor, the study was planned to find the prevalence of cataract among the elderly population, and related socio-demographic factors. Methods: The study was a community-based cross-sectional study done at field practice area of rural health training centre and urban health training centre, J N Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. A sample of 550 was taken from the registered elderly population aged 60 years and above using systematic random sampling with PPS. Socio- demographic characteristics was obtained using pretested and predesigned questionnaire. Cataract was identified with the help of torch light examination of lens. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Tests of proportion (Wald’s method to calculate confidence interval) and chi-square test was used. P value <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The prevalence of cataract in the study population was 72.1% (95% CI- 68.3%, 75.8%) which was significantly associated with age, marital status, type of family & working status. Conclusions: The study concluded that approx. three- fourth of elderly population had cataract which was significantly associated with various socio- demographic factors. Therefore, these factors need to be addressed to reduce the burden of cataract among elderly population.