Grading of Malnutrition Among Under 5 Children Residing in Urban Slum in Mysuru Using WHO Classification and Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Classification: A Comparative Study

Background Malnutrition in Indian children under five is widespread, driven by insufficient food intake and diseases like diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Factors such as food security, maternal literacy, and healthcare access influence malnutrition rates. Growth monitoring utilizes WHO standards globally and IAP guidelines in India. Implementing these charts improves early identification and management of malnutrition, crucial for addressing childhood health challenges in India. This study compare the prevalence of malnutrition in WHO classification with Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) classification among under 5 children residing in urban slum. Methodology A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6 to 60 months attending Anganwadi centres. Socio-demographic details was obtatined and anthropometric measurements were plotted on IAP and WHO growth charts. Data was summarized and represented in tables. Results Among 145 children, 50.3% were females. Mean age of the children were 3.8 ± 1.2 years and majority belonged to Hindu religion (71%) followed by Muslims (26.2%). According to WHO chart, 92(63.4%) are normal and 51(35.2%) were underweight while with the IAP, 114(78.6%) are normal and 29(20%) were underweight. 2 children (1.4%) were overweight according to both the classification. Conclusion Both WHO and IAP classification can be used for the screening. IAP classification is more suitable for the Indian population.