Vol. 9, Issue 10 (2020)

Author(s):
Seema Kumari, Usha Singh and Ruby Kumari

Abstract:
The period of life from two to six years of age is called early childhood years and also the preschool years. This is an important period in the life of an individual (Hurlock 1981). The nutrition of preschool children is of considerable importance not only because of concern over their nutrition in formative stage of life but is widely perceived to have a substantial and persistent impact on their physical and mental development and their health status and productivity during adult period/age. Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential. Poor nutrition increases the risk of illness, and is responsible, directly or indirectly, for the deaths that occur in children less than 5 years of age. The study was conducted in samastipur district of Bihar. For this purpose sixty respondents were purposively selected. The result of the study showed that the energy intake by preschool children 1264.85 but the RDA energy required is 1350 Kcal and protein intake has been 39.64 as compared to RDA of 20 g per day. The value for fat, iron and calcium has been observed to be 36.29 g, 18. 15 mg and 561.42 mg respectively as compared to RDA for fat ( 25g), iron (13 mg) and calcium (600 mg). 8.33 per cent of the children were suffering from bleeding gum followed by 5 per cent of children from angular stomatitis and 3.33 percent each from cheilosis, dry scaly dermatitis and pain and sensation in the arm and leg. Nutritional status of preschool children were positive and significant at 1 per cent of energy (0.691**), protein (r=0.641**), CHO(r=0.605**), fat (r= 0.386**), Cal(r=206), Iron(r=0.580**). Anthropometric indicators of height of protein (r=0.272*), CHO (r= 0.303*) and calcium (r=0.221*) with height. Energy (r=0.446**), CHO (r= 0.399**), and cal (r=0.002**) intake with weight was positive and whereas protein (0.295*) and iron (r= 0.308*) intake. Energy (r=0.300*) and fat (r= 0.338*) intake with MUAC was positive and significant at 5 per cent.