NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF CHILDREN IN NEPAL, 1975

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (3) , 311-318
Abstract
Using a random start, fixed interval method of population proportionate sampling, survey teams visited 219 villages in rural Nepal and collected data on height, weight and age from 6501 preschool children. During training and at specific times during the survey, systematic standardization methods were utilized to improve the quality of the collected data. Using 80% of the reference median weight-for-height as the cut-off point, the prevalence of acute undernutrition was 6.7%. Using 90% of the reference median height-for-age as the cut-off point, the prevalence of chronic undernutrition was 52%. The prevalence of chronic undernutrition was significantly higher in the hilly areas. Mean Hb values of blood samples collected from 1/5 of the survey population increased with age with no difference between hill and terai areas. A Nepal urban elite population was measured for comparison. The survey method used indicators that are economical in terms of money, time and personnel and that provide objective data on the extent and distribution of protein/energy undernutrition and of low Hb values in preschool children.

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