Extent of Nutritional failure among under-five children from an urban slum in South India: A cross-sectional assessment using Composite index of Anthropometric failure

Introduction: NFHS-5 Telangana statistics reports underweight, stunting, and wasting among under 5 children to be 31.8%, 33.1%, and 21.7% respectively.Nutritional assessment is done by several methods. Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure(CIAF) is an aggregate indicator that excludes children with anthropometric failure and includes children who are wasted, stunted, or underweight, and their combinations. Only a few published research regarding the prevalence of under nutrition have utilized CIAF and explored the association between food intake with anthropometric failures in urban slums of Telangana. Objectives To determine the prevalence of anthropometric nutritional failures and to find the determinants among under-five children in an urban slum area of Hyderabad Methodology A cross sectional community based study was conducted among 309 under 5 children residing in the urban-slum area of Hyderabad. Sampling of anganwadis was done by probability proportionate to size and children were randomly selected within anganwadis. Using questionnaire and standard operating procedures, socio-demographic profile, health details and nutritional assessment was done. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 26. Results The prevalence of under nutrition as per CIAF is noted to be 39.6%. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were found to be 20.7%, 26.8% and 12%, respectively. The illiteracy of father[AOR:2.94(CI: 1.31–6.62);p value = 0.009],low birth weight[AOR:2.024(CI: 1.253–3.26);p value = 0.004], not exclusively breastfed[AOR:4.291(CI: 1.55-11.904);p value = 0.005] and deficient calorie intake[AOR:2.079(CI:1.103–3.906);p value = 0.023]were found to be the significant predictors of Anthropometric failure. Conclusion Under nutrition is an important public health problem with 40% prevalence in urban slum of Telangana. CIAF provides a single, aggregated assessment of under nutrition in the community. Enhancing the literacy level of fathers, reduction in low birth weight through better nutrition of mothers during pregnancy, better IYCF practices and providing children with a calorie adequate diet will aid in enhancing children's nutritional status.