Growth status of preschool children with a view to create a motivational song on growth promotion for preschoolers

 

Shilpa. S¹*, Dilshad Ali², Jismol Thomas², Jincy Eldhose², Fifanciya CJ², Hafeela CT², Drisya T K², Lijina A P²

 

ABSTRACT:

A quantitative approach non experimental descriptive exploratory research design was used for the study. 30 samples from selected anganwadies of Ponmala panchayath were selected by non probability purposive sampling technique. Socio demographic data were assessed using socio-demographic performa. Data were analysed and interpreted by descriptive and inferential statistics. Data collection tool were standardized growth chart, Gomez classification for degree of malnutrition, and structured interview schedule. Results and conclusion: The analysis revealed that, 33.3% preschool children have normal height and 30 % children have severe under height, 30% preschool children have normal weight and 43.33% children have severe under weight, 66.07 % preschool children have normal mid arm circumference and 3.34% children have severe under mid arm circumference, 53.33% preschool children have healthy weight, 30% preschool children have normal nutritional status and 80 % children have moderate malnutrition. There is a significant association between socio-demographic variables with growth status and nutritional status (p value<0.05).

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Children are gift from the God, they are reward from him. They are the world's most valuable resources and it's best hope for future¹. Growth is an essential feature that distinguishes a child from an adult. The process of growth starts from the time conception and continues until the child grows into a fully mature adult. During the early embryonic period of life². An exponential increase in the number of cells occurs. At the early embryonic stage, Fetal cells divide and differentiate to form tissues and organs in later half of pregnancy and early childhood, there is an additionally an increase in the cell size.

 

The cell size continues to enlarge until about ten year of age. After that increase in the cell size occurs rather slowly³. Good nutrition help to improve child survival to promote healthy growth and development to contribute to better cognitive and economic development⁴. To reduce the morbidity and mortality rate and the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, DM, kwashiorkor, marasmus, Hypertension. It has often being leading in the qualitative andquantitative point of view regulating in occurrence of malnutrition⁵.

 

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

A study to assess the Growth status of preschool children in a selected anganwadies of Ponmala panchayath, in Malappuram with a view to create a motivational song on growth promotion for preschoolers.

 

OBJECTIVES:

·       To assess the growth status of preschool children.

·       To assess the nutritional status of preschool children.

·       To associate the growth status of preschool children with selected socio-demographic variables.

·       To associate the nutritional status of preschool children with selected socio-demographic variables.

·       To assess the effect of motivational song on growth promotion of preschool children.

 

ASSUMPTION:

·       The growth status of the preschoolers in the selected community may vary from the WHO standards of growth.

·       Singing the motivational song frequently may help to faster food intake and thereby promote nutritional status.

 

METHODOLOGY:

A quantitative approach non experimental descriptive exploratory research design was choosen for the study. The sample comprised of 30 preschoolers in a selected Anganawadi of Ponmala panchayath, Kerala, India by Non probability purposive sampling technique was used in this study. After taking the consent, Socio demographic data were assessed using socio-demographic performa, Growth status by WHO growth assessment chart for assessing growth status, Degree of malnutrion by Gomez formula. Data was analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

 

Analysis and interpretation:

Section I–Distribution of socio demographic characteristics of preschool children (n=30)

 

Figure 1: Percentage distribution of preschool children based on age

 

Figure 1 shows 3.33 % of preschool children are belongs to the age group of 3 –3.5 years, 33.33 % from the age group of 3.5 – 4 years, 6.67 % preschool children belongs to 4 – 4.5 years and 56.67% children are among the age group of 4.5 – 5 years. (n=30)

 

Figure 2: Percentage distribution of preschool children based on gender

 

Figure 2 shows that 50% of the study participants are females and remaining 50% are male.

 

Table 1 - Frequency and percentage distribution of preschool children based on Type of the family, Income of the family and Occupation of the parents, Type of dietary pattern , Delivery and Birth order of child, number of siblings, duration of breast feeding, weaning started, any previous history of infections or infestations, any behavioral disorders, any other nutritional supplementations. (n = 30)

Variable	Category	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
Type of the family	Joint family	10	33.33 %
	Nuclear family	20	66.67 %
Income of the family	Below 5000	16	53.33 %
	Rs.5001–10000	11	36.67 %
	Rs.10001–20000	3	10 %
Occupation of parents	Private employee	25	83.33 %
	Home maker	5	16.67 %
Type of dietary pattern	Mixed	30	100%
Delivery	Preterm	3	10 %
	Term	27	90 %
Birth order of child	First	9	30 %
	Second	5	16.67 %
	Third	11	36.67 %
	Forth and above	5	16.67 %
Number of siblings	1	10	33.33 %
	2	7	23.33 %
	3	6	20 %
	4 and above	1	3.33 %
	Nil	6	20 %
Duration of breast feeding	1 Year	1	3.33 %
	1.5 Year	2	6.67 %
	2 Year	27	90 %
Age at which weaning started	3 rd month	6	20 %
Any previous history of infections or infestations for the child	Yes	15	50 %
	No	15	50 %
Did the child have any behavioural disorder	Pica Nail biting	1 1	3.33 % 3.33 %
	Temper tantrum	10	33.33 %
	Tics	1	3.33 %
	Both B and C	3	10 %
	A, B and C	1	3.33 %
	Nil	13	43.33 %
Any other nutritional supplementations	Amrutham powder	15	50 %

SectionII– Assessment of growth status of preschoolers by using WHO growth charts

Table 2 - Frequency and percentage distribution of preschool children based on height (n = 30)

Growth status	Frequency (f0	Percentage (%)
Severe under height	9	30 %
Moderate under height	10	33.33 %
Normal height	10	33.33 %
Severe under weight	13	43.33%
Moderate under weight	8	26.67 %
Normal weight	9	30 %
Severe under mid arm circumference	1	3.34 %
Moderate under mid arm circumference	7	23.33 %
Normal mid arm circumference	20	66.67 %
Moderate over mid arm circumference	2	6.67%
Severe under mid arm circumference	1	3.34 %
Under weight	14	46.66 %
Healthy weight	16	53.33 %

 

Section III –Assessment of nutritional status by using Gomez formula.(n=30):

 

Figure 3 shows that 50 % are having mild malnutrition, 30 % having normal nutrition and remaining 20 % of preschool children having moderate malnutrition

 

 

Section IV– Association of growth status of preschool children by using WHO growth chart with selected socio–demographic variables.

Table 3- Association of growth status by means of weight by using WHO growth chart with selected socio–demographic variables.

(n = 30)

Variables		Category			df	Chisquare	Pvalue
	Severe undr wt	Modrt undr wt	Norml wt	Moderate over wt
Age in year
3–3.5 Years	4	2	4	0	9	23.59	0.0049*
3.5–4 Years	0	0	1	1
4–4.5 Years	5	4	3	0
4.5–5 Years	3	3	0	0
Gender of the child
Male	5	4	5	1	3	1.442	0.695
Female	7	5	3	0
Type of the family
Joint family	5	3	2	0	3	0.797	0.850
Nuclear family	7	6	6	1
Income of the family
Below 5000	9	3	4	0	6	6.652	0.354
5001–10000	2	5	3	1
10001–20000	1	1	1	0
Occupation of the parent
Private employee	10	7	7	1	3	0.330	0.954
Home maker	2	2	1	0
Delivery
Preterm	0	3	0	0	3	5.676	0.128
Term	12	6	8	1
Birth order of the child
First	4	1	3	1	9	6.741	0.664
Second	3	1	1	0
Third	3	5	3	0
Fourth and above	2	2	1	0
Number of siblings
1	3	5	1	0	9	14.96	0.092
2	2	2	3	0
3	2	1	1	0
Nil	5	1	3	1
Duration of breast feeding
1 Year	1	0	0	0	6	3.199	0.783
1.5 Years	2	0	0	0
2 Years	9	9	8	1
Age at which weaning started
3rd month	3	3	0	0	6	1.799	0.937
6th month	8	5	7	1
9th month	1	1	1	0
Any previous history of infections or infestations
Yes	5	6	3	1	3	2.332	0.506
No	7	3	5	0
Any behavioural disorders
Pica	0	1	0	0	9	8.525	0.482
Nail biting and temper tantrum	8	5	2	0
A, B, and C	0	0	0	1
Nil	4	3	6	0
Any other nutritional supplementations
Amrutham powder	4	4	5	1	3	20.77	0.00011*
Nil	8	5	3	0

 

Table 3 shows that there is a significant association between weight of the preschool children with age (p value <0.05) and weight of the preschool children with any other nutritional supplementations (p value<0.05).

 

Section V -Association of growth status by means of height by using WHO growth chart with selected socio–demographic variables.

Table 4- Section deals with the analysis of association between height of preschool children with Age, Gender and Type of the family.

(n = 30)

Variables		Category		df	Chisquare	Pvalue
	Sevr undr wt	Modrt undr wt	Norm wt
Age in year
3–3.5 Years	5	2	3	6	6.52	0.367
3.5–4 Years	0	0	2
4–4.5 Years	4	5	3
4.5–5 Years	1	1	4
Gender of the child
Male	3	3	8	2	4.721	0.094
Female	7	6	3
Type of the family
Joint family	3	4	7	2	20.238	0.00004*
Nuclear family	7	5	4
Income of the family
Below 5000	6	5	5	4	4.032	0.401
5001–10000	3	8	0
10001–20000	0	2	1
Occupation of the parent
Private employee	8	4	12	2	5.1	0.07
Home maker	2	4	0
Delivery
Preterm	1	0	2	2	0.801	0.669
Term	9	8	10
Birth order of the child
First	4	3	2	6	3.136	0.791
Second	2	0	3
Third	2	4	5
Fourth and above	2	1	2
Number of sibblings
1	4	1	4	6	8.454	0.206
2	1	4	2
3	3	3	1
Nil	2	0	5
Duration of breast feeding
1 Year	1	0	0	4	7.743	0.101
1.5 Years	1	1	0
2 Years	8	7	12
1.5 Years	1	1	0
2 Years	8	7	12
Age at which weaning started
3rd month	3	2	1	4	4.046	0.399
6th month	7	4	10
9th month	0	2	1
Any previous history of infections or infestations
Yes	6	5	4	2	0.8	0.67
No	4	5	6
Any behavioural disorders
Pica	0	0	1	6	12.229	0.05
Nail biting and temper tantrum	4	9	2
A, B, and C	1	0	0
Nil	5	1	7
Any other nutritional supplementations
Amrutham powder	1	7	5	2	8.252	0.016*
Nil	9	3	5

 

Table 4 shows that there is a significant association between height of the preschool children with type of the family (p value<0.05) and with nutritional supplementations (p value<0.05).

 

Section VI- Association of growth status by means of mid arm circumference by using WHO growth chart with selected socio–demographic variables.

Table 5- Section deals with the analysis of association between mid arm circumference of preschool children with Age, Gender and Type of the family.  (n = 30)

Variables		Category		df	Chisquare	Pvalue
	Sevr undrmidarm circm	Modrte under circumfernce	Norml mid arm circumfrnc
Age in year
3–3.5 Years	1	3	6	6	18.654	0.0047*
3.5–4 Years	0	0	2
4–4.5 Years	0	3	9
4.5–5 Years	0	2	4
Gender of the child
Male	0	2	13	3	4.09	0.129
Female	2	6	8
Type of the family
Joint family	0	4	6	2	1.78	0.410
Nuclear family	7	6	6
Income of the family
Below 5000	0	4	12	4	17.84	0.0013*
5001–10000	1	3	7
10001–20000	0	1	2
Occupation of the parent
Private employee	1	5	19	2	1.57	0.456
Home maker	0	3	2
Delivery
Preterm	0	2	1	2	2.44	0.295
Term	1	6	20
Income of the family
Below 5000	0	4	12	4	17.84	0.0013*
5001–10000	1	3	7
10001–20000	0	1	2
Occupation of the parent
Private employee	1	5	19	2	1.57	0.456
Birth order of the child
First	1	3	5	9	4.72	0.858
Second	0	1	4
Third	0	3	8
Fourth and above	0	1	4
Number of sibblings
1	0	3	5	9	8.10	0.524
2	0	3	5
3	0	1	3
Nil	1	1	8
Duration of breast feeding
1 Year	0	0	1	4	22.02	0.00019*
1.5 Years	1	0	1
2 Years	0	1	2
Age at which weaning started
3rd month	1	1	4	4	27.7	0.000014*
6th month	0	6	15
9th month	0	1	2
Any previous history of infections or infestations
Yes	0	2	13	2	4.18	0.123
No	1	6	8
Any behavioural disorders
Pica	0	0	1	6	43.67	0.00001*
Nail biting and temper tantrum	0	4	11
A, B, and C	1	0	0
Nil	0	4	9
Any other nutritional supplementations
Amrutham powder	0	3	11	2	1.86	0.394
Nil	1	5	10

 

Table 5 shows that there is a significant association between mid arm circumference of preschool children with age in year (p value<0.05), income of the family (p value<0.05), duartion of breast feeding (pvalue<0.05), age at which weaning started (pvalue <0.05) and any behavioural disorder (pvalue<0.05).

 

Section VII- Association of growth status by means of BMI by using WHO growth chart with selected socio–demographic variables.

Table 6- Section deals with the analysis of association between BMI of preschool children with Age, Gender and Type of the family.

(n = 30)

Variables		Category			df	Chisquare	Pvalue
	Sevr undr wt	Undr wt	Norml wt	Ovr wt
Age in year
3–3.5 Years	1	4	5	0	9	13.338	0.147
3.5–4 Years	1	0	0	1
4–4.5 Years	1	6	5	0
4.5–5 Years	0	1	4	1
Gender of the child
Male	3	4	7	1	3	2.73	0.435
Female	1	4	10	0
Type of the family
Joint family	0	4	6	0	3	2.3256	0.507
Nuclear family	2	6	10	2
Income of the family
Below 5000	3	7	5	1	6	14.3434	0.026*
5001–10000	0	0	8	1
10001–20000	0	1	1	0
Occupation of the parent
Private employee	4	10	11	0	3	1.208	0.751
Home maker	0	2	13	0
Delivery
Preterm	0	1	2	0	3	10.941	0.012*
Term	5	10	12	0
Birth order of the child
First	0	2	6	1	9	28.503	0.000756*
Second	1	2	2	0
Third	1	7	3	0
Fourth and above	1	0	3	1
Number of sibblings
1	2	4	3	0	9	18.33	0.031*
2	0	3	3	1
3	1	1	2	0
Nil	0	3	6	0
Duration of breast feeding
1 Year	0	1	0	1	6	24.4303	0.000435*
1.5 Years	0	1	1	1
2 Years	3	9	13	0
Age at which weaning started
3rd month	2	1	3	0	9	19.053	0.024*
6th month	1	10	9	1
9th month	0	0	2	1
Any previous history of infections or infestations
Yes	1	4	9	1	3	2.8644	0.413
No	2	7	5	1
Any behavioural disorders
Pica	0	1	0	0	9	18.0651	0.034*
Nail biting and temper tantrum	3	9	3	0
A, B, and C	0	0	1	0
Nil	0	1	10	2
Any other nutritional supplementations
Amrutham powder	1	6	7	0	3	2.3	0.512
Nil	2	5	7	2

 

Table 6 shows that there is a significant association between BMI of preschool children with income of the family and delivery (pvalue<0.05), birth order of the child, number of siblings and duration of breast feeding (pvalue<0.05), age at which weaning started (pvalue<0.05, any behavioural disorders (pvalue<0.05).

 

Section VIII –Association of nutritional status of preschool children with selected socio–demographic variables.

Table 7 - Section deals with the analysis of association of nutritional status of preschool children with Age, Gender and Type of the family. (n = 30)

Variables		Category		df	Chisquare	Pvalue
	Norml	Mild	Modrate
Age in year
3–3.5 Years	3	5	2	6	7.564	0.271
3.5–4 Years	2	0	0
4–4.5 Years	3	8	1
4.5–5 Years	1	2	3
Gender of the child
Male	6	7	2	2	1.732	0.420
Female	3	8	4
Type of the family
Joint family	2	6	2	2	1.293	0.523
Nuclear family	7	9	4
Income of the family
Below 5000	2	8	6	4	6.514	0.163
5001–10000	6	5	0
10001–20000	1	2	0
Occupation of the parent
Private employee	8	12	5	2	0.319	0.852
Home maker	1	3	1
Delivery
Preterm	1	2	0	2	1.657	0.436
Term	8	13	6
Birth order of the child
First	3	3	3	6	2.955	0.814
Second	1	3	1
Third	3	7	1
Fourth and above	2	2	1
Number of siblings
1	2	4	3	6	8.926	0.177
2	2	4	1
3	2	1	1
Nil	3	6	1
Duration of breast feeding
1 Year	0	1	0	4	0.832	0.934
1.5 Years	0	2	0
2 Years	9	12	6

 

Table 7 shows that there is a significant association between nutritional status of preschool children with age at which weasning started (pvalue<0.05)

 

Table 8- Section deals with the analysis of association between nutritional status of preschool children with Age at which weaning started and any previous history of infection or infestations for the child. (n = 30)

Variables		Category		df	Chisquare	Pvalue
	Svr undr wt	Modrt undr wt	Norml wt
Age at which weaning started
3rd month	0	4	2	4	14.354	0.006247*
6th month	7	10	4
9th month	2	1	0
Any previous history of infections or infestations
Yes	7	7	1	2	5.505	0.06
No	2	8	5
Any behavioural disorders
Pica	0	0	1	6	13.47	0.036*
Nail biting and temper tantrum	4	5	2
A, B, and C	1	0	0
Nil	4	6	3
Any other nutritional supplementations
Amrutham powder	3	9	2	2	1.3192	0.517
Nil	6	6	4
Any behavioural disorders
Pica	0	0	1	6	13.47	0.036*
Nail biting and temper tantrum	4	5	2
A, B, and C	1	0	0
Nil	4	6	3
Any other nutritional supplementations
Amrutham powder	3	9	2	2	1.3192	0.517
Nil	6	6	4

 

Table 8 shows that there is a significant association between nutritional status of preschool children with any behavioural disorders (pvalue<0.05).

 

 

Section IX –Assessment of effectiveness of motivational song on growth promotion of preschool children

Table 9- Frequency and percentage distribution of preschool children based on effectiveness of motivational song on growth promotion. (n = 30)

Variables	Category	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
Weight status of the child	Increased	5	16.67 %
	No change	25	83.33 %
Ability to recall the song	Not able to recall	28	93.33 %
	Partially able to recall	2	6.66 %
Attitude towards the motivational song	Interested Partially interested	15 15	50 % 50 %

 

CONCLUSION:

33.3 % preschool children have normal height and 30% children have severe under height. 30% preschool children have normal weight and 43.33% children have severe under weight, 66.07% preschool children have normal mid arm circumference and 3.34% children have severe under mid arm circumference, 53.33% preschool children have healthy weight, 30% preschool children have normal nutritional status and 80% children have moderate malnutrition, There is a significant association between socio-demographic variables with growth status and nutritional status (pvalue<0.05).

 

REFERENCE:

1.     National Nutrition monitoring Bureau. Reports. Hyderabad: National Institute of Nutrion, Indian Council of Medical Research, 2001.

2.     Deaton A, Dreze J.Food and nutrition in India:facts and interpretations.Econ polit Wkly 2009;7:42-65.

3.     Maitra P, Rammohan A, Ray R, Robitaille M-C. Food consumption patterns and malnourished Indian children: is there a link? Discussion Paper no. 19/10. Department of Economics, Monash University, 2010.

4.     National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB). 1979- 2006. NNMB Reports. National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 2006.

5.     Bharati S, Pal M, Bharati P. Determinants of nutritional status of pre-school children in India. J Biosoc Sci 2008; 40:801–14.

 

 

Received on 03.03.2020          Modified on 08.04.2020

Accepted on 29.04.2020      ©AandV Publications All right reserved