Nutritional Status of Under-5 Children in Migrant Laborer Settlements of Ernakulam District, Kerala, Southern India – A Mixed Method Study
Renjini B. Ambika, Sobha George, Jeby Jose Olickal, Akhil X. Manuel, Rakesh P. SuseelaAbstract
Background:
To assess the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in migrant laborer settlements and their utilization of Integrated Child Development Scheme services in Ernakulam district, Kerala.
Material and Methods:
A mixed method study includes a community-based cross-sectional survey among 165 migrant under-5 children selected through a multistage cluster sampling method and 16 In-Depth Interviews among various stakeholders.
Results:
Of the children studied, 46% were stunted, 26% were wasted, and 12% had severe wasting. About 72% were aware of the nearest Anganwadi, and 49% and 42% of the eligible children received nutritional supplementation and availed the growth monitoring facilities, respectively. Major barriers to utilizing Anganawadi services were language barrier, inconvenient hours of operation, a lack of nutritional supplementation based on their taste, fear of discrimination from the parents of native children, and frequent family displacements.
Conclusions:
Nutritional status of migrant under-5 children is a concern and requires urgent attention.