A Cross Sectional Study of Morbidity Pattern among Children Attending Primary Schools in Vijayawada.

Background: Morbidity in children is a major public health concern as this adversely affects their physical and mental growth. Moreover, poor health along with poor nutrition and disability can be barriers to attending school and to learning. Poor health and malnutrition may impair both the growth and cognitive development of primary school children. There is growing evidence of considerable burden of morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases and malnutrition in school children. Methods: The cross sectional study was done among the children of 8 Elementary schools in Vijayawada among students of age group 6 - 11 years. 664 students were included. A Child was subjected for thorough clinical examination in good day-light. Examination included thorough clinical scrutiny including anthropometric measurements and assessment of morbidity pattern. Results: Majority of the children belongs to the age group of 6-7 years (35.5%), followed by 8-9 years (33.0%) and 10-11 years (31.5%). Girls constituted 60.2% of the study population and boys constitute 39.8% of the study population. Majority of the girls are in 8-9 age group and boys in 6-7 age group. Obesity was found in 8(1.2%) children. Severe stunting was found in 15(2.3%) children. Severe underweight was found in 14(2.5%) children. The most common morbidities among the study population were Dental caries present in 32.5% children, defective vision in both eyes 28.5% children, Diarrhea was reported in 24.7% children in the last three months, Acute respiratory infections in 21.5% children in the last three months, ear wax in 20.9% children, dandruff in hair in 19.0% children, tonsil enlargement in 11.9% children & pale conjunctiva in 10.1% children. Most of the children (81.8%) had one or the other morbidity. Conclusions: Morbidity was more among lower age group, boys, Muslim religion, Nuclear family, illiterate fathers, literate mothers, upper lower class of socio-economic status, children who passed worms in stool and children with poor personal hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]