• Aurangzeb Sand, Ramesh Kumar, Babar T Shaikh, Ratana Somrongthong, Assad Hafeez, and Dalpat Rai.
• Aurangzeb Sand, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan. Taluka Hospital, Nagarparkar, Sindh, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2018 Mar 1; 34 (2): 260-265.

ObjectivesTo understand and catalogue the specific determinants of this alarming rate of malnutrition among children of Tharparkar district, Sindh Pakistan.MethodsThis was a hospital based analytical survey. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire by interviewing mothers of the children (age 6-59 months), admitted in the hospital. Following WHO guidelines, weight and length/ height of 105 children were recorded. Study was conducted in District Headquarters Hospital, Tharparkar district of Sindh province.ResultsAlmost 48% children admitted in the hospital were identified with severe acute malnutrition. More males (55%) were malnourished as compared to females (45%). Maternal education, household income, family size, breastfeeding, vaccination status, and frequent infections were found to be significantly associated with the severe acute malnutrition.ConclusionSpecific interventions on promoting exclusive breastfeeding, vaccination, and timely health care seeking behaviors would definitely improve the outcomes. Nevertheless, sector wide approaches would be needed on girls' education, poverty, and food security in the district in order to address the issue of malnutrition.

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