A PROFILE OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER FIVE YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) CAMP, JALOZAI DISTRICT NOWSHERA

Objectives: To analyze the degree of malnutrition in children under five years of age in IDPs camp of Jalozai, district Nowshera and to assess the ratio of malnourishment among gender. Methodology: The study was conducted at Jalozai camp, Nowshera for a period of three months duration. A sample of 100 children with age range six to fifty nine months (6months to 59months) with certain degree of malnutrition was selected according to the inclusion criteria. The data was gathered from the record of Primary Health care Centre Jalozai of Merlin (Medical Relief Lasting Health Care. Children were diagnosed as mild, moderate and severe degree malnutrition on the basis of their height and weight for their respective ages (Gomes and Harvard classification). Standard weight charts were used for assessment. The data was analyzed by applying the descriptive statistics using SPSS version 10. Results: Out of 100 malnourished children, 40 (40%) were boys and 60 (60%) were girls. Eight boys (20%) and 17 girls (28.3%) had mild while 32 (80%) boys and 43 girls (71.7%) had moderate malnutrition. Severe degree malnourished children were excluded from the study. Among 51 children of age between 6 and 23 months, 33 (64.7%) children were breast fed, 16 (31.3%) were bottle fed and 2 (4%) were both bottle and breastfed. 63 (63%) children were immunized completely, 34 (34%) partially and 3 (3%) children were not at all immunized. Conclusion: Prevalence of malnutrition increases for refugees and IDPʹs, and is more common in female as compared to male gender.