Comparative Assessment the Nutritional Status among School Going Children of Employed and Unemployed Mothers: A Study in Selected Schools of Nepalgunj, Banke, Nepal

Abstract

The science of nutrition focuses primarily on how nutrients contribute to human growth, development, and maintenance. Nutrition is the study of the relationship between diet and health. The goal of healthy nutrition is to keep people in a nutritional state that promotes growth and optimum health. The six to twelve year old school going is a vital time for children's physical and intellectual development. The socioeconomic standing of families, community social well-being, community access to quality healthcare, and environmental influence are all significant determinants of children's health. Malnutrition can be prevented using a variety of strategies if it is seen as a problem in human ecology. This study's goal was to assess the nutritional status of school going children in Nepalgunj, Banke, whose mothers were employed or unemployed and attended selected schools. The study used a descriptive comparative research approach, and 120 students from Nepalgunj, Banke were chosen using stratified random selection. A systematic questionnaire that was self-developed was used to gather the data. The study's findings indicated that children with underweight (51.6%) were more common among children of employed moms than of jobless mothers (20%). However, children of unemployed moms (43.3%) had a higher prevalence of normal weight children than did children of employed mothers (25%). The body mass index (BMI) of the children was found to be correlated with the type of school and maternal job level, with P-values of <0.001 and <0.02 respectively. Children's nutritional status is a critical component of their growth and development. According to this study, children of employed moms were less likely to be underweight, whereas those of jobless mothers were typically sized. Children's BMI was correlated with the work position of the mother and various school kinds, including public and private schools. When developing treatments to improve children's nutritional status, these elements should be taken into account.

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