Impact of Prenatal Checkups of Mothers and Immunization of Children on the Health Status of Children (0-3 years) - A Study in Rural areas of Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh.

Abstract

Background and objectives: A survey based study on rural areas of Aligarh District was conducted to assess the prenatal checkups pregnant women and its effects on health status of children between the age of (0-3 years), and immunization received by children and its effects on their health status. Methods: Five hundred children from five villages of rural areas of Aligarh District were randomly selected. For the purpose of the study, a self prepared structured interview schedule was used. To get the qualitative information of the study anthropometric measures include height weight were used for assessing growth pattern of the child. The stepwise analysis of two variables height for age and weight for age was done on the basis of Water low’s and Gomez’ classification. To examine the relationship between Health Status of the child and selected variable that affects Health Status of children, Chi-square test was employed. Results: Based on Gomez’ classification out of 88% mothers who did not go for prenatal ups majority 80% of children were underweight, and 80% of children who did not receive immunization majority 60% were underweight. Based on Waterlow’s classification majority 68% of children were stunted whose mother did not go for prenatal checkups and 50% of their children were stunted who did not receive immunization. Conclusion: Majority of children were stunted whose mother did not go for prenatal checkup and the children who did not receive immunization.