Causes of Child Malnutrition | What is Malnutrition
Malnutrition Definition : When there is not one or more nutrients in the diet, if there are too many or if they are not in proper proportion with the nutrients, then the nutrition is defective. This defective nutrition is called malnutrition.
Types of child malnutrition :
There are three types of malnutrition in children. -
1. Overnutrition, II. Undernutrition, 3. Nutritional
imbalance
Causes of child malnutrition :
1. Mother's impatience :
Often when the baby refuses to eat, the mother scolds him and
tries to force feed him. This often leads to reluctance or fear in the child
towards that food. So while feeding the baby, the mother has to feed the baby
slowly with special care, caress and love. The baby should be praised after the
meal, which encourages the baby to eat.
2. Baby likes and dislikes :
In many cases the mother tries to impose her choice on the
child without looking at the likes and dislikes of the child. Be it about food
or food containers. These can cause problems with the baby's diet. So mothers
need to be aware of this. The problem is much less if the child's likes and
dislikes are given some importance.
3. Aversion to food :
Many times mothers, while feeding their babies, make negative
comments about certain foods, as they wish. This also causes new problems in
baby food. This causes nutritional problems. So mothers should not be reluctant
about any food.
4. Variety of food :
When children are fed the same food every day, sooner or
later the child becomes reluctant to eat. This is also a problem related to
diet. Diversification of food and cuisine is needed to solve this problem.
Children enjoy a varied diet and it satisfies their nutritional needs. As a
result, the problem of malnutrition is solved at least a little bit.
5. Poverty :
Due to financial difficulties, many parents are unable to
provide their children with food rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. As a
result, malnutrition occurs in pre-school children due to lack of calories.
6. Ignorance :
Due to lack of proper knowledge about nutrition, many parents
provide artificial food to their children instead of natural food. As a result,
malnutrition occurs in pre-school children.
7. Mother’s malnutrition :
Many mothers themselves suffer from malnutrition. As a
result, malnutrition occurs in infants due to lack of adequate amount of
nutrients in breast milk.
8. Reforms and religious restrictions :
Various family reforms and religious restrictions have
resulted in malnutrition among preschool children. Again, as a result of
prejudice, many parents are unable to develop good eating habits in their
children.
9. Lack of hygiene :
Many children are malnourished due to lack of proper hygiene.
In most cases, it is not customary to wash dishes in hot water and to wash
hands with soap before serving food. This results in bacterial infections that
disrupt the body's nutrition.
10. Infections :
If any disease germs enter the body of the child, then the
digestive function, absorption, assimilation etc. of the child is disrupted. As
a result, children suffer from protein malnutrition.