Patterns of maternal nutritional status based on mid upper arm circumference

• Published in: Pakistan journal of medical sciences Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 382 - 386
• Main Authors: Bari, Attia, Sultana, Nighat, Mehreen, Sana, Sadaqat, Nadia, Imran, Izza, Javed, Rashida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan Knowledge Bylanes 30.04.2020; AsiaNet Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd; Professional Medical Publications
• Subjects: Age; Body mass index; Breastfeeding & lactation; Children & youth; Data collection; Developing countries; Illiteracy; Malnutrition; Maternal mortality; Mothers; Nutrition; Obesity; Original; Parent educational background; Population; Pregnancy; Setting (Literature); Womens health; Pakistan; Children; Malnutrition; WHZ score; Mid upper arm circumference; Maternal nutrition
• ISSN: 1682-024X; 1681-715X
• DOI: 10.12669/pjms.36.3.1331

To determine the patterns of maternal nutrition status by using mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and to examine the association of maternal nutritional status with the nutritional status of malnourished children under two years of age. Descriptive study conducted at the Department of Pediatric Medicine of the Children's Hospital, Lahore from January 2017 to March 2018. A total of 227 mother accompanying their children admitted for nutritional rehabilitation were included. Demographics of participants along with MUAC of every mother was taken. Data analysis was done by SPSS 22. Mean maternal age was 28.29±5.30 years and mean age of children was 9.22 ± 6.05 months. Mean maternal MUAC was 25.53±3.63 cm. Normal nutrition was present in only 70 (31%), 35 (15.4%) had moderate to severe under nutrition and 68 (30%) were overweight and 17 (7.5%) were obese. Maternal illiteracy was common 150 (66%) and 203 (89%) belong to poor social class. Majority 150 (75%) children had <-3SD WHZ score. Only 42 (18.5%) children were exclusively breast fed. Maternal malnutrition was significantly associated with severity of child's undernutrition (p=0.045) and low rates of exclusive breast feeding practices (p=0.049). Malnutrition, in the form of both under nutrition and obesity is prevalent in mothers of malnourished children belonging to lower social class. Maternal illiteracy and low income are the major contributor in maternal malnutrition which in turn has an impact on child nutrition and breast feeding practices.