A Correlational Study to Assess the Knowledge on Nutrition of Under Five Children among the Migrating Mothers and Prevalence of Nutritional Problems among Their Children in Selected Rural Community, Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu

A study to assess the knowledge on nutrition of under five children among migrating mothers, and prevalence of nutritional problems among their children. The study found that, maximum 59 (98.33%) of the mothers had inadequate knowledge on nutrition of under five children, 1(1.67%) of the mothers had adequate knowledge. The prevalence of clinical aspects of nutritional problems were lack of luster in 45 (70%), think built 35 (58.3%), pale conjunctiva 33 (55%), angular stomatitis 16 (26.6%), pale and fabby sign 23 (38.3%), red and raw signs 3 (5%), mottled enamel 32 (53.3%), Dental carries 18 (80%), parotid gland enlargement 1 (1.6%), dry and scaly skin 4 (96.6%), koilonychia 5 (83%). ;

With regard to degree of malnutrition 5 (8.33%) of them had III degree malnutrition, 23 (38.33%) of them had II degree of malnutrition, 29 (48.33%) of them had I degree malnutrition and 3 (5%) of them had normal nutritional status.

The mean score of overall knowledge on nutrition of under five as 8.57 with S.D. 2.63, the mean score of degree of malnutrition was 74.37 with S.D. 10.5 with an 'r' value of -0.225 which indicate that when knowledge level decrease the prevalence rate will be increased.