Socio-cultural factors that affect children under five in the world

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a major public health problem in India. This affects the child at the most crucial period of time of development, which can lead to permanent impairment in later life. PEM is measured in terms of underweight (low weight for age), stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height). The prevalence of stunting among under five is 48% and wasting is 19.8% and with an underweight prevalence of 42.5%, it is the highest in the world. Undernutrition predisposes the child to infection and complements its effect in contributing to child mortality...

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) constitute the major causes of mortality and morbidity among under-five children of the developing world. The prevalence of ARIs is determined individually or collectively by a number of factors which may be prevalent in our environment. AIM: The present study is aimed to determine the risk factors that affect the prevalence of ARIs in under-five children in Enugu. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 436 under-five children diagnosed with ARI was carried out in three hospitals in Enugu...