Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Toddlers and Preschool Children and Its Effect on Developmental Outcomes.

Abstract

Background:

Childhood malnutrition remains a pressing issue in low- and middle-income countries, with India showing high rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight in children under five. Poor nutritional status in early life is strongly associated with adverse developmental outcomes including delayed motor, language, cognitive, and social skills. Despite various national health programs, the intersection of nutrition and developmental outcomes in toddlers and preschoolers requires further exploration.

Objectives:

1. To evaluate the nutritional status of children aged 6 months to 5 years.


2. To assess the association between nutritional status and developmental outcomes.

Methodology:

This was a cross-sectional study conducted from August to December 2024 at the Outpatient Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kelambakkam. A total of 180 children aged 6 months to 5 years were enrolled using convenient sampling. Anthropometric measurements (weight-for-age, height-for-age, BMI, MUAC, head circumference) were taken and plotted on WHO growth charts. Children were classified into categories of nutritional status (normal, MAM, SAM, underweight, thinness, obesity). Development was assessed using the Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart (TDSC) across gross motor, fine motor, language, and social domains.

Results:

Among children aged 0–3 years (n=92), 79.3% had normal nutritional status, while 13% had MAM, and 3.3% had chronic malnutrition. 86.2% showed no gross motor delay, but 75.8% had language delay. Social milestone delay was present in 49.1%. In children aged 3–6 years (n=88), 61.4% had normal nutrition, while 10.2% had MAM. Developmental delays were noted in 21.5% (gross motor), 38.8% (fine motor), 40.5% (language), and 36% (social) domains. Notably, children with chronic malnutrition exhibited delays in fine motor (83.3%), language (85.3%), and social (71.4%) milestones. Interestingly, even children with normal anthropometry exhibited delays, indicating the influence of socio-economic and environmental factors.