Nutritional Status of Preschool Children at Bharatpur, Nepal

Background: Early childhood malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge in Nepal, with the 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey reporting a 25% prevalence of stunting, 8% wasting, 19% underweight, and 1% overweight among children under 5 years.This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and associated factors among preschool children aged 3 -5 years in an urban setting of Nepal.Methods: A descriptive, cross -sectional study was conducted among 115 preschoolers attending two preschools in Bharatpur, Chitwan.Proportionate stratified sampling was used for recruitment.Anthropometric measurements and socio -demographic data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using WHO Anthro software and SPSS.Chi -square tests examined associations between nutritional status indicators and independent variables.Results: Of the preschoolers, 6.1% were severely wasted, 8.7% moderately wasted, 3.5% severely stunted, 15.7% moderately stunted, 3.5% severely underweight, and 8.7% overweight. Prevalence of severe wasting, stunting and underweight were lower compared to previous rural Nepali studies but overweight exceeded national estimates. Statistically significant associations were observed between wasting/stunting and child's age (p<0.05), and between wasting and presence of siblings (p<0.05). No significant association was found with underweight status. Conclusion: While nutritional indicators were relatively better than rural settings, the study highlights ongoing concerns regarding undernutrition and overweight/obesity among urban preschoolers in Nepal. Tailored interventions are needed across socioeconomic groups, targeting key determinants like sibling status, dietary patterns and access to maternal/child health services to further improve nutrition outcomes.