INTRODUCTION:

Today’s children are tomorrow’s world or tomorrow’s father” this slogan is riding a massive wave of concern throughout the world. But children, all over the world are deprived of many facilities. Hunger and malnutrition make them worst sufferers and these pose potential threats to mankind as a whole or to the civilization itself.¹

Nutrition is a core pillar of human development and concrete, large scale programming not only can reduce the burden of under nutrition and deprivation in countries out also can advance the progress of nation.¹⁰

Nutritional assessment in the country serves as appropriate data gathering processes to enable accurate planning and implementation of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with under nutrition. Anthropometric measurements remain the most practically useful means for the assessment of the nutritional status of a population.

According to IAP, for children to be well nourished they need energy from variety of nutrients to lead a healthy and happy life. While adequate food is important throughout childhood, it is crucial during the first five years of child’s life.³

The level of child under nutrition remains unacceptable throughout the world, with 90 percent of the developing world’s chronically undernourished (stunted) children living in Asia and Africa.^5,6 Early childhood malnutrition can have lasting effects on growth and development status. The inadequate energy and protein intake leads to malnutrition in the form of wasting, stunting and underweight.

NEED OF THE STUDY:

Children are the future pillars of the nation and the future of the nation rests on the hands of the children’s health today. The future of the society depends upon the quality of life of its toddlers.⁸

The purpose of selecting the urban and rural is that, when compared to urban: there is a lack of knowledge for toddler’s mother residing in rural area and to enhance and improve the knowledge for them and to bring not healthy life style for toddlers from the initial stage itself.⁹

According to Gujarat Demographic and Health Survey (2013-2014), there is 13.6% malnourished child in rural Gujarat and 6.5% malnourished child in urban Gujarat. The underweight prevalence rate is 59% of toddlers.¹

The UNICEF report says 3.1 million children under five year of age die world- wide every year. The India has the highest number of child deaths; the child mortality rate at 1to4 year has decrease by14 deaths/1000 children from 32 state of India (2013).⁴

National family health survey (NFHS-3) showed that there has been decrease mortality rate of 1to4 years of child; it is 14 deaths/1000 children. Around 32 state of India have malnutrition in children.²

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research approach: Quantitative Research

Research design: Phenomenological research design

Interpretative phenomenological research design

Delimitation of The Study:

· The study is delimited to Navsari District of Gujarat state.

· The study is delimited to Toddlers only.

· The study is delimited to 200 samples.

Independent variable:

· Educational level of parents

· Occupation of parents

· Breast feeding practices

· Number of siblings

· Food pattern

· Quality of food.

Dependent Variables: Nutritional Status

Research Setting: Selected Urban and Rural Area of Navsari.

Population: Primary Source (Toddlers)

Secondary Source (Mother’s of Toddler)

Sample: Toddlers of Urban and Rural Area

Sample Siz: 200

Sampling Method: Non probability sampling

Purposive Sampling Method

Tools for Data Collection: Semi-Structured Survey Questionnaire, Growth Chart, MUAC

Techniques of Data Collection: Interview Method (semi structured), Observation and Assessment

DATA ANALYSIS:

Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized for the data analysis. Data were organized and presented in the following manner:

1. Majority of the toddler’s age group 19 month to 24 month (29%) in urban area while in rural area it was (32%).

2. Majority of toddler’s religions (70%) in rural area while in urban area (95%) were Hindu.

3. It was found that (76%) of the toddlers from urban and (70%) of the toddlers from rural area were having birth weight more than 2.5 kg.

4. In urban area majority of the fathers (45%) were educated up to secondary and mothers (62%) were educated up to primary. In rural area majority of the fathers (38%) were educated up to primary and mothers (39%) were up to illiterate.

5. Present study showed that in urban area majority of fathers (82%) were service and in rural area majority of fathers (55%) were farmers. In urban area majority of mothers (70%) while in rural area (90%) were house wives. In urban area majority of parents of toddlers (15%) and in rural area (94%) had monthly income was up to 5000 or below it.

6. It was found that majority of the toddlers fathers from urban area were chewing tobacco (36%) as a habit whereas, in rural area majority of the fathers were alcohol (36%).

7. In urban area and rural area majority (50%) and (45%) of toddlers were from joint family. In urban area and rural area majority (50%) and (12%) of toddlers having three sibling.

8. It was found that started weaning at 6 month (55%) in urban area and (65%) in rural area were getting completely while in urban area (58%) and in rural area (60%) breast feeding practice were still continue.

9. In urban area majority of toddlers (74%) and in rural area (72%) were taking mixed diet. In urban area majority of toddlers (88%) and in rural area (86%) were taking family food. In urban area majority of toddlers (72%) and in rural area (68%) were taking sufficient food.

10. (100%) toddlers were found immunized according to age in urban and rural area.

11. In urban area majority of toddlers (75%) were attending anganwadi, utilizing food and liking food of anganwadi while (25%) toddlers were not attending anganwadi. In rural area majority of toddlers (65%) were attending anganwadi, utilizing food and liking food of anganwadi, while (35%) toddlers were not attending anganwadi.

12. In urban area majority of the toddlers house environmental sanitation condition were poor (35%) and in rural area (70%).

13. The Source of drinking water was municipality water in urban area (95%) while in rural area the source of drinking water was bore well water (25%) and well water for (75%).

14. In urban area majority of family of toddlers (35%) were using personal latrine for sanitation and (65%) were using common latrine for sanitation. In rural area majority of family of toddlers (02%) were using personal latrine for sanitation and (65%) were using open air defecation for sanitation.

15. In urban area majority of family of toddlers (20%) were premature and (75%) were delivered at term while, in rural area majority of family of toddlers (30%) were premature and (65%) were delivered at term.

16. In urban area majority of family of toddlers (75%) were receive colostrums while, in rural area majority of family of toddlers (65%) were receive colostrums.

17. It was found that, In urban area majority of family of toddlers (80%) were take breast feeding within 1 to 4 hours, (10%) were take in 5 to 12 hours and (10%) were taken after 12 hours. While in rural area of toddlers (65%) were take breast feeding within 1 to 4 hours, (10%) were take in 5 to 12 hours and (25%) were taken after 12 hours.

18. In the urban areas the majority of toddlers (75%) were take cow milk and (08%) were take formula milk while in the rural areas the majority of toddlers (48%) were take got milk, (35%) were take cow milk and (37%) were take the buffalo milk.

19. It was found that majority of the toddlers in urban area (15%) were suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and fever while in the rural area it is (25%).

20. It was found that majority of the toddlers in urban area (25%) and in rural area (35%) were suffering from breathing difficulty during running and working

21. It was observed that the toddlers in urban area had height 15%, in rural area had height 40%, and were below average.

22. The majority of the toddlers in urban area mid arm circumference 08% were in rural area mid arm circumference 13% indicated severely malnourished due to poor Dietary pattern, lack of knowledge regarding nutrition and Socio-economical status.

23. Malnourished in urban area (29%) were in rural area (35%) and severely malnourished in urban area (07%) were in rural area (15%) according to weight of toddlers.

24. It was observed that majority of the toddlers head to toe assessment were normal. The toddlers 26% had pale lips due to anaemia, 18% of toddlers had pale gums, 22% of toddlers had pale and coated tongue due to anaemia and 23%of toddlers had pale nails due to anaemia. In Urban area few toddlers having a anaemia due to lack of knowledge regarding diet and poor dietary pattern.

25. It was observed that majority of the toddlers from rural area 47% of had pale lips due to anaemia, 40% of toddlers had pale gums, 32% of toddlers had pale tongue due to anaemia, Two was down syndrome child was who was unable to walk and deaf and dump. Majority of toddlers were anaemic in rural area due to lower educational status of parents, lack of knowledge regarding diet, poor dietary pattern and lower socio-economical status.

CONCLUSION:

Major conclusion of the study are:

Nutritional Status deficit was existed in urban and rural area of Navsari district. From the above findings, it was concluded that the Nutritional status of the urban toddlers were higher than the rural toddlers and it was found that the variables like educational status of parents, exclusive breast feeding practice, number of sibling, quantity of diet of toddlers had positive effect on Nutritional status of the toddlers.

RECOMMENTATION:

a) A similar study may be replicated using the large sample and among more number of areas so that findings can be generalized for a larger population.

b) A similar study can be replicated among the various groups of children’s like infant, preschool, school going.

c) A comparative study can be conducted in order to compare the nutritional status of the toddlers among two District or two states.

d) A comparative study can be conducted in order to compare the nutritional status

e) A study can be done on effect of nutritional status on the growth of toddler.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

REFERENCES:

1. http:// W.W.W. Keepkid healthy. Com

2. http://W.W.W. Mother child nutrition. Org// NFHS-3.

3. http//: W.W.W .// right to food in india .org // ICDS // ICDS index. htm.

4. http:// W.W.W. UNICEF usa. org // press// releases// UNICEF too many children dying malnutrition.

5. Gupta B.M and Bhandari B; “indian journal of pediatrics nutritional assessment of rural pre-school children’’, Udaipur December 27,2007.

6. H,M, Swani, J.S. Thakur, Assess the nutritional status if under-five children in urban And rural areas “ , Indian journal of pediatrics”

7. Kiran Bains and Area J.k. Assessment of nutritional status of under-five children. The Indian Journal of nutrition and dietetics, Aug.2009; vol-46 nom-8.

8. Mosiur Rehman, Golam “Nutritional Status Of Children”, the internet journal of Biological Anthropology vol- 3, 2009.

9. Sharma S. Nager S Impect of educational intervention on knowledge of mothers Regarding child Care and nutritional Journal of Social Science 2006 12 (2):132-142 (2010 may 2)

10. S P Mitra, A study on dietary intake and nutritional status of underfive children, Journal of community medicine - 2007, vol-32, issue – 1, PP-92.

Received on 26.08.2019 Modified on 21.09.2019

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2020; 8(1): 41-44.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2020.00008.3