Kalkot

Childhood malnutrition is common in Pakistan, especially in remote agro-pastoral communities that face challenges like low income, difficult locations, harsh weather, and effects of climate change. These communities also have unique dietary habits and cultures that may influence children's nutrition, growth, and development. This research aims to understand how diet and nutritional status relate to child growth and development in these specific settings. The study will follow infants and young children up to 2 years old from agro-pastoral areas of District Swat, Pakistan, along with a similar group from urban areas for comparison. Researchers will collect information on household socio-economic status, food insecurity, mothers' dietary diversity, infant feeding practices, and complementary feeding every year for 5 years. They will also measure children’s height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, and body mass index at each visit. Participants will be assessed annually until they reach 5 years old to monitor growth and development using tools like head circumference and developmental questionnaires. The study will examine how dietary patterns influence body mass index and overall child development over time. This approach helps identify factors linked to healthy growth and development in these communities under challenging conditions.