Introduction: Inadequate nutritional intake and poor dietary patterns can result in undernutrition, which has significant consequences on health. Undernutrition is a problem not only in rural Indiabut also in urban slums. A study in Turbhe slums New Mumbai, showed a high prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting among children under five years of age. Based on the findings of this study, a nutrition education intervention was designed and imparted to the mothers of these children.

Objectives: To study the effect of intervention (nutrition education) among mothers and their children in an urban slum.

Methods: A quazi experimental design was used to assess the effect of nutrition education on mothers’ knowledge levels and childrens’ anthropometric measurements. Using cluster sampling technique, a cohort of 300 mothers and their children were contacted for providing the intervention and recording the anthropometric measurements. The intervention consisted of one-to-one and group sessions with these mothers.

Results: Post-intervention data was collected from 282 mothers,  as 18 were lost to follow-up. Student’s t-test showed significant improvement in knowledge scores of mothers  There were no significant changes in stunting, wasting and underweight status of these children.

Conclusions: This study found that nutrition education was effective in spreading awareness among families on the importance of a healthy diet. Families can improve their nutritional health with the resources available to them in the short-term. However, for long-term effects like reduction in stunting, continuing multidisciplinary strategies addressing poverty, women’s education and empowerment will be required.

malnutrition, urban slum, intervention.