Abstract
A study was conducted with an objective to assess the nutritional status, risk factors
of malnutrition and biochemical changes of severely malnourished under five
children in Agargaon and Beribadh slums of Dhaka during February, 2016 to
January, 2019. A total of five hundred children were selected for this study age, of
which 52% children were boys and 48% children were girls. As per mid upper arm
circumference classification, 40% children were malnourished. Considering weight
for height Z-score, 23% children were found wasted. In height perspective for Age Zscore, 41% and 35% children were stunted and underweight respectively. The risk
factors including breast feeding, colostrums feeding, immunization, family
members, mother's education, family monthly income, types of housing, source of
drinking water, frequent sickness by diarrhoea, ARI, measles, some skin diseases
and occurrence of malnutrition were identified. Biochemical analysis was done on 32
severely malnourished children of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. The serum analysis
included zinc, magnesium, electrolytes (Na+, K+), blood sugar (r), ferritin, albumin,
globulin and total protein. The results of serum analysis were zinc 578-698 µg/1,
magnesium 0.85-1.44 mg/dl, electrolyte (Na+) 116-145 mmol/1 and electrolyte (K+)
3.22-5.4 mmol/1, blood sugar (r) 1.85-2.9 mmol/1, ferritin 4.85-6.9 µg/1, albumin 10-
34 g/1, globulin 8-15.5 g/1, total protein 30-56.25 g/1. All the parameters were below
normal range except electrolytes (Na+, K+) in some cases. This study indicates that
reduction of malnutrition of children is possible through growth promoting
program, breast feeding, complementary food supply, prevention of common
diseases and awareness of parents.