Role of per-capita income and occupational structures in determining the nutritional status of children under five years: A study in rural areas of Panipat district

Abstract

Nutritional status among children under five years is determines through various factors. Per-capita income and occupational structure are the two important factors among those factors. The present study is based on primary data and conducted in rural areas of Panipat district. The study examines the nutritional status in children less than five years among rural areas of Panipat district among different income groups and different occupational structures. The study also examines the relationship between per-capita income and nutritional status of children less than five years among rural areas of Panipat district. Nutritional status of children under five years is measured with anthropometric approach and z-score value of height-for-age, weight-for-height and weight-for-age is calculated with the help of WHO Anthro Software, version 3.2.2. It is found that highest prevalence of stunted (44.94 per cent), wasted (36.63 per cent) and underweight (44.04 per cent) is found in children belongs to those families who engaged in primary activities. However, lowest prevalence of stunted (20.00 per cent), wasted (17.14 per cent) and underweight (17.14 per cent) is found in children belongs to those families who engaged in tertiary activities. It is also found that the lowest prevalence of stunted (27.75 per cent), wasted (21.47 per cent) and underweight (27.75 per cent) is found in high monthly per-capita income group while the highest prevalence of stunted (59.89 per cent), wasted (42.78 per cent) and underweight (57.22 per cent) is found in low monthly per-capita income group. It indicates that the prevalence of stunted, wasted and underweight is decreased as monthly per-capita income increased. Further it is also found that per-capita income is positively correlated with z-scores of weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height. However, is found significantly (0.01 level of significance) correlated with weight-for-height as well as weight-for-age in rural areas of Panipat district.