Abstract

Objective: To access the prevalence of wasting and investigate associated risk factors of wasting among children under 5 years in Faisalabad.
Methodology: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 mother-child pairs between aged 0–59 months in rural areas of Faisalabad. Children’s anthropometric measurements were taken to determine the prevalence of wasting.Data were collected by mothers with a structured questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate analysis was done by SPSS 23 vision.
Results: The overall prevalence of wasting was 28.2%. Children aged group 0-5 months were found at 12(37.7%) highest prevalence of wasting, while children aged group between 48-60 months were found at 18(24.3%) lowest prevalence of wasting. Lack of antenatal care visits during pregnancy, 5 and higher childbirth order, home deliveries, the prevalence of diarrhea in the last two weeks, and unimproved source of drinking water were significantly associated with wasting.
Conclusion: Antenatal care visits during pregnancy, birth order number, delivery place, diarrhea in the last two weeks, and the source of drinking water were responsible factors for wasting.

Key words: Malnutrition, wasting, prevalence, associated factors, under-five children, Pakistan.