Comparison of Nutritional Status among 2-5 years Children between an Urban and a Rural area of Bangladesh

Abstract

A cross sectional comparative study was conducted to observe the nutritional status of
children of age range from 2 to 5 years in an urban and a rural area of Bangladesh. The
study was conducted on 400 children dividing 200 in rural area and 200 in urban area.
The objectives of the study were to identify the clinical status in relation to anemia,
vitamin A deficiency (Night blindness, Bitotspot), vitamin B deficiency (Cheilosis,
Glossitis, Angular Stomatitis), scabies, dental caries, otitis media, upper respiratory tract
infection (U.R.T.I.), Urinary Tract Infection (U.T.I.) and Enlargement of thyroid gland.
Special attention was given to observe the anthropometric measurements. Nutritional
status of children was assessed by using Z score, mid arm circumference and skin fold
thickness. To assess the growth performance, we used three indicators-weight for age Z
score (WAZ), height for age Z score (HAZ) and weight for height Z score (WHZ) and
compared them between urban and rural area. The other objectives were to assess the biochemical
parameters of children in terms of hemoglobin level in blood, parasitological
presence of Ascaris Lumbricoides (AL), Ancylostoma Duodenale (AD) and Trichuris
Trichura (TT) in stool. ,
According to skin fold thickness, the mean biceps of urban children were different than
that of rural children, with established significant test. The triceps (Urban 7.76±2.29,
Rural 8.50±5.80) and sub scapula (Urban 7.00±2.89, Rural 6.57±3.66) measurements of
children in urban and rural areas were not significantly different. Again 92.5% children
were found normal and 7.5% were moderately under nutrition in respect of MAC
measurements. Dental caries, vitamin deficiency and otitis media were seen among a
large number of children in urban and rural areas. Flaky hair, enlargement of thyroid
gland, Bow-legs were seen only among rural children.
The results of the present study revealed that in urban area 49.0% and in rural area 49.5%
children were anemic (Hb level < 11 gtn/dl). The AL, TT and AD presence in stool of
children were not significantly different between urban and rural areas.