“Nutritional Status of Children Below 6 Years of Age and Its Association with Maternal Autonomy in Rural Areas of Bagalkot,” Karnataka, India.

Abstract

Background: Freedom from hunger and malnutrition is a basic human right, and their alleviation is a fundamental prerequisite for human and national development. Mothers play a vital role in determining the nutritional status of their children.  The growth rate is maximal during the first 6 years of life; hence malnutrition has a direct impact on infant and under-five children health

Objectives: To assess nutritional status of children up to 6 years of age and  its association with maternal autonomy at selected rural areas of Bagalkot.”

Methods: A cross sectional study with a sample of 360 children, aged between, 6 months to 6 years and their mothers, was selected by disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to collect baseline information, SPSS version 28 was used for statistical analysis.

Results : A significant association was found between nutritional status in terms of weight for age (P< 0.00001) and height for age (P< 0.00001) of children and their mothers’ maternal autonomy at 0.01 level of significance.

Conclusions: The findings reveal that maternal autonomy has inversely Proportional impact on nutritional status of the child.