"Determinants of Childhood Morbidity: The Role of Nutrition, Hygiene, and Environmental Conditions"

Abstract

Introduction: Morbidity among children under five years remains a major public health concern in urban slum settings, where poor nutrition, inadequate hygiene, and unfavorable environmental conditions increase vulnerability to preventable illnesses. Understanding the combined influence of these factors is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve child health outcomes.

Objectives: Assess the morbidity pattern among children under five and examine its association with personal hygiene, environmental conditions, and nutritional status in the study area.

 Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 550 children aged 6 months to 5 years in selected urban slums of Sambalpur District, Odisha, using a multistage sampling technique. Data on morbidity, hygiene practices, environmental conditions, and nutritional status were collected through caregiver interviews and anthropometric measurements following WHO guidelines, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and univariate logistic regression in SPSS (p ≤ 0.05).

Results: Morbidity was significantly higher among children exposed to poor housing cleanliness and unsafe drinking water, while environmental conditions showed selective associations with respiratory and parasitic infections. Stunting, underweight, and composite anthropometric failure were significantly associated with gastrointestinal morbidities such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and worm infestation, with children classified under CIAF experiencing the highest overall burden of illness.

Conclusions: The study highlights the strong interplay between poor nutritional status, inadequate household sanitation, and increased childhood morbidity in urban slum settings. Integrated interventions focusing on improving child nutrition, housing hygiene, and access to safe drinking water are essential to reduce preventable illnesses among under-five children.