To find out prevalence and associated risk factors of malnutrition among under 5 years children in rural area of district jalaun- a cross sectional study (CodeT0339)

Introduction: Malnutrition among children under five is a major public health concern, leading 
to increased morbidity and mortality. The study aims to assess the prevalence and associated risk 
factors of malnutrition among under-five children in rural Jalaun using WHO and Composite 
Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) criteria. 
Aims and Objectives:  
Aim: 
To find out the prevalence and associated risk factors of malnutrition among under 5 years 
children in rural area of District Jalaun. 
Objectives: 
1. To identify the socio-demographic factors of the study population. 
2. To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition of the study population. 
3. To find out thefactors associated with malnutritionamong the study population. 
4. To make necessary recommendations based on the results of present study. 
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 children under five years in rural 
Jalaun, selected using multistage random sampling. Anthropometric measurements, including 
weight, height, MUAC, and WHO Z-score classification, were used to assess nutritional status. 
Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests and descriptive statistics. 
Results: The overall prevalence of malnutrition was 54.3% (CIAF). Stunting (40.5%) was the 
most common form, followed by underweight (34.1%) and wasting (17.6%). Factors 
significantly associated with malnutrition included low maternal education, poor socioeconomic 
status, inadequate antenatal care, larger family size, and improper feeding practices. 
Conclusion: Malnutrition remains a critical issue among under-five children in Jalaun. 
Improving maternal education, socioeconomic conditions, and nutrition awareness is essential to 
reducing malnutrition rates. Targeted interventions focusing on early childhood nutrition and 
healthcare are recommended to address these challenges. 
Keywords: Malnutrition, under-five children, prevalence, risk factors, Jalaun, CIAF