A COMPARITIVE STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL, PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN RESIDING AT HOME AND AT DAYCARE CENTRE.

Background: During childhood, adequate nutrition is essential to remain healthy and to ensure that our body functions properly. Therefore, for children of this age (2-5yrs), adequate amount of all essential nutrients need to be provided through the diet for maintaining their physical and mental health. Various factors which affect our body needs for different nutrients include age, gender, activity as well as the body weight, height. Aim: The present study aimed to compare nutritional profile, cognitive development and physical growth among day care (DC) and home residing children (HR). Methodology: Present study recruited 40 subjects; 20 were from day care and 20 from home residing. A pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. In Anthropometry, z-score was calculated by standard growth charts (Height-weight), nutrient intake was assessed by 24 hrs- dietary recall and cognitive development was analyses by pretested questionnaire (10 items). Result: Both groups (DC and HR) were age-sex matched. Z-score distribution in both groups was insignificant different as DC group had 55% normal growth whereas HR had 40% normal growth and very few comes under obese (35% and 50%) and underweight (10%) in both groups respectively. Cognitive score distribution in both groups was also insignificant HR group had 85% children who were having excellent cognitive development scores whereas 60% in DC. The nutrient intake of both groups was significantly different. Conclusion: The study shows that DC had better nutritional intake as compared to HR group whereas HR group had better cognitive score as compared to DC group. And there was no significant difference in physical profiles of both groups. The cognitive development of children is not only affected by nutrition, it is also affected by other factors like environment, breast feeding etc.