Abstract:

Unfortunately, India's recent high economic growth has not been accompanied by adequate advancements in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. The study's objectives are to ascertain the prevalence of malnutrition in kids between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, as well as the sociodemographic, environmental, and other factors that are linked to acute malnutrition. Based on the findings, it will also provide suitable recommendations. Topiwala National Medical College's rural field practise area was chosen as the study's location. Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years comprised the study population in this case. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted in the neighbourhood. Children in the research area were underweight in 56.30% of cases, stunted in 52.96%, and wasted in 27.8%. The majority of the local children (96.7%) were Hindu. The vast majority of kids are from socioeconomic class IV (Modified B.G.Prasad). The majority of kids (28.15%) were between the ages of 25 and 36 months. Children made up 67.78% of joint families. Approximately 79% of moms had completed at least their first year of school. The prevalence of malnutrition in all three forms—underweight, stunting, and wasting—was somewhat higher in male children than in female children, which is encouraging for female children. Although the reading rate was relatively high, children's diets lacked sufficient amounts of calories, proteins, and minerals.

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