Prevalence and Causes of Malnutrition Among Children: A Study of Sahib Abad Upper Dir

Abstract

         The aim of this study is to determine the level of malnutrition and its determinants among children below five years in Sahib Abad, Upper Dir. This cross-sectional study, carried out with fifty (50) married male respondents who have children below five, adopted the simple random sampling technique and used structured questionnaire in data collection. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS and findings were reported in terms of frequency and percentage. The results of the study revealed that malnutrition is common among children in this area, with some of the determinants being; low education standard of the mother, inadequate breast feeding duration and poor economy. Some of the inevitably incurred consequences of poor nutrition among the children included vomiting as well as always falling sick with factors such as cough and fever. The results point to the directions on how malnutrition and child health could be improved through increased nutritional education, better access to health facilities and parental enlightenment.