Abstract:
Children’s Malnutrition in Maldives is still a major public health problem,
showing a prevalence of 19% stunted and 16 % wasted 317% under nourished
(MDHS, 2009) among children under five years. Moderate acute malnutrition
affects worldwide resulting in life long adverse effects including increased
mortality, suppressed immune system functions, and delayed growth and
cognitive development. According to the WHO classifications the level for
stunting, wasting and underweight are considered still high in the Maldives. The
objective of this dissertation is to assess the factors( mothers education; wealth of
household; and place of residence) contributing to malnutrition among children
under five years in the Maldives in order to identify possible intervention that
help in improving child malnutrition in the Maldives. The sample of 721 children
in Urban and 1792 children in rural were collected from the MDHS and a data set
was formulated for the study. This dissertation was guided by the modified model
of theoretical frame work adopted from UNICEF conceptual framework for
malnutrition. The framework provides connection between mothers education;
wealth quintile; and place of residence which contributes to nutritional status
under five years children. The relationship between rural and urban children’s -
2SD mild stunting status are same but rural children’s -3SD stunting shows they
are affected more than urban children. Wasting and underweight among rural
children are much higher compare to urban children. Analysis of household
wealth influence shows those who at lowest level have less stunted children as compare the second and middle level of wealth. Wasting and underweight also
shows similar pattern.
To compare the nutritional status in regions shows under nutrition is higher in
Central and North Central region .Compare to Male’ the under nutrition status is
two times higher than those regions. The relationship of mothers education to
children’s nutritional status shows that children of mothers completing higher
education had 3 times reduction in getting a stunted and underweighted child. As
compare to no formal education of mothers, wasting children was higher among
primary educated mothers. With the analysis of the result it has suggested to
strengthen female education at schools where dropout rate is higher. Also provide
nutrition education and proper child care practices training to mothers. Promote
communication for behavior change using the hearth model to those regions.
Conduct further research in-depth analysis on wealth quintiles.
