Prevalence of malnutrition in under 6-years children in South Khorasan in 2006

  Prevalence of malnutrition in under 6- years children in South Khorasan in 2006

 Hajiani M(MSc)*,Sharifzadeh Gh.R (MSc)**, Raghebi S,

 Background:
Malnutrition is one of the important health problems which has undesirable effects on mental and physical health of children. This study  deal with the prevalence of malnutrition in children under 6 years old in south Khorasan in 2006.
Materials and methods:
This cross sectional study was done on 1807 children under 6 years old in south Khorasan, belonging to six urban and rural region applying multistage cluster sampling methodology. Data collection was done through measuring of weight and height for Seca, and structural questionnaires ANIS, and face-to-face interviews with mothers. To study malnutrition, measurement for index under weight, wasting and stunting. Data was analyzed by chi-square test, SPSS software and EPI-Info 2000, and α= 0.05 was taken as the significant level.
Results:
From 1807 children 51.7% were males, 52.2% living in urban areas and 37% were under 24 months old. Weight index showed that 52.2% were normal, 34.4% were lightly under weight, 11.7% moderately under weight, and 1.2% were severely under weight. Prevalence of under weight had a significant relationship to habitation, mother's job and parents' education level. According to criteria standing 55% were normal, 28.4% were lightly, 12.7% were moderate, and 3.9% were extremely standing. Stunting also had a significant relationship to habitation, age, mother's job and parents' level of education. Wasting criteria showed that 67.8% had normal wasting, 24.7% light wasting, 5.9% moderate wasting and 1.6% had severe wasting.
Conclusion:
With regard to high prevalence of malnutrition in children and its relationship to economic-social variables, measures such as increasing parents education especially mothers' knowledge, constancy of breast feeding until the age of 2 years, and promoting nutrition status of children under 6 years are recommended.
Key words:
Malnutrition, Children 6-years, South Khorasan