Malnutrition has been prevalent in children born from mothers of child marriages. Lumbini Regional Hospital Butwal has observed that most cases of malnutrition in young babies are correlated to underage mothers.
The nutrition rehabilitation center is currently providing services to children of 6 months to 5 years of age in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, Nawalparasi West, Pyuthan, Dang, Roppa, Rupandehi, and Syangja.
At present, eight children are receiving services at the nutritional rehabilitation center which has a capacity of 10 patients. According to Nurse Budhimaya Sunar, a nurse at the center, 884 children have been served at the home since its establishment on April 2013. She further states that they are struggling to execute their duties due to a vacancy in one position of nursing staff.
A total of eight people are serving in the nutrition rehabilitation office, consisting of three nursing staff, one nutrition officer, two office assistants, one cook, and one cleaner.
Shanta Yadav of Taulihwa Municipality-7, Khoiriya Kapilvastu, has a four-year-old son at the age of 20. Shanta was when she was 15 years old and gave birth at 16. Her son was admitted to a health post in Taulihwa after her son contracted a high fever and refused to eat.
Her four-year-old son weighed only 6 kg and 400 grams. The doctor advised the child to be treated for severe malnutrition. Shanta says, ‘After admitting him to the center within a month he weighs 9 kg and 200 grams”.
Bhawang Harita Batha Magar of Madi Rural Municipality-5, Rolpa District, who was also subjected to child marriage at the age of 18, shares a similar story of her three-year-old son. Her son had frequent fever, diarrhea, and cold from time to time, and was referred to Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Butwal. It was diagnosed that her child’s weight was not consistent with the ratio of his age and height. His problem was directly related to malnutrition. He has been admitted to the rehabilitation center since December 17.
The doctor admitted him to the hospital saying that he had a problem due to malnutrition and started the treatment. Since the 2nd of January, he has been in the nutritional rehabilitation home of Butwal along with his son.
Ranjita Bashkhor of Ramgram Napa-1 Nawalparasi West, who was married at the age of 16, shares a similar story.
The children admitted to the Nutrition Center are given litho and boiled eggs at 7 am, and rice, lentils, vegetables, and chutney at 10 am. Per their age and weight ratio, the children are fed 20 to 40 grams of nutritional solid food. Around 1 p.m. children are given milk or formula depending on their health condition.
A severely malnourished child who of formula feeding is treated with a special nutritional diet with a specific feeding schedule based on the health and admission status of the child.
According to Dr. Netra Rana, a senior pediatrician at Lumbini Regional Hospital Butwal states that the center provides nutritional training to the parents along with treating their children. Although the weight, age, and height ratio of malnourished children can be restored and adjusted, the effect of malnutrition on the executive function of the child’s brain can not be reversed.
Malnutrition is co-related to the age of the mothers. However, there are other factors of child marriage like health problems faced by young mothers, domestic violence, poverty, and lack of access to nutritious food that directly and indirectly contribute to malnutrition in young children.