Abstract Background: Children of today are citizens of tomorrow, which is why it is extremely important to ensure proper health care facilities as well as adequate nutritional intake for the children [1]. Nutrition of the preschool children is of paramount importance because the foundation for life time, health strength and intellectual vitality is laid during that period [2]. Nutritional assessment in the country serves as appropriate data gathering processes to enable accurate planning and implementation of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with under nutrition3 . Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of the urban and rural preschool children. To compare the nutritional status of urban and rural preschool children. To determine the association between social demographic variables and nutritional status of urban preschool children. To determine the association between social demographic variables and nutritional status of rural preschool children. Methods: A comparative study involving 50 urban pre-school children and 50 rural preschool children of selected urban and rural anganwadicentreswere taken for the study. A comparative research design was adopted for this study. Data were collected by using check list and anthropometric measurements.. It included data regarding socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional assessment check list and anthropometric measurements such as height, weight and mid arm circumference. Results: Nutritional grading of anganwadi children in urban areas out of fifty children height for age 74% (37) were normal, 12% (6) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. With regards to weight for age 62% (31) were normal, 30% (15) were moderate malnutrition, 8% (4) were severe malnutrition. Related to Mid arm circumference 62% (31) were normal, 30% (15) were moderate malnutrition, 8% (4) were severe malnutrition. Based on height for weight 64% (32) were normal, 30% (15) were moderate malnutrition, 12% (6) were severe malnutrition. Among fifty rural area children, based on height for age 66% (33) were normal, 20% (10) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. With relates to height for age 46% (23) were normal, 40% (20) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. Regards to mid arm circumference 46% (23) were normal, 40 % (20) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. Based on height for weight, 48 % (24) were normal, 42 % (21) were moderate malnutrition, 10% (5) were severe malnutrition. Conclusion: The present study showed a significant association between nutritional status of preschool children and demographic variables. There is a scope for much improvement in the form of enhanced supplementary nutrition.
Keywords: Nutritional Status; Pre-School Children; Anganwadi Centres.