The Frequency of Malnutrition and Its Related Factors in 2-5-year Old Children of Kerman Suburb Area in-2014

Background: The high prevalence of malnutrition in children and its association with mortality and growth retardation is an important health problem in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and factors associated with it in 2-5-year old children visiting the Kerman Saeidi Health Center in 2014.


Methods: This descriptive-analytic, cross- sectional study was carried out on 360 children (2-5 years old) referred to one of the health centers in suburbs of Kerman during 2014. Subjects were selected through stratified random sampling. Anthropometric parameters of children were measured and data were extracted using WHO Anthro software. Data were analyzed using χ2 and logistic regression and through SPSS19 software.


Results: Two hundred and two children (56%) were female. Thirty three children (9.2%) had moderate and severe underweight, 55 ones (15.2%) suffered from moderate and severe wasting and 23 children (6.4%) had moderate and severe stunting. Frequency of all types of malnutrition was higher in low birth weight children.


Conclusions: According to the results, mild malnutrition was the most common type of malnutrition. Because, even mild malnutrition puts children at risk, it is recommended that family physicians pay more attention to the nutritional status of these children to prevent the progress of mild malnutrition toward moderate and severe forms.


Key words: Children, Growth, Malnutrition, Kerman, Anthropometric indices

Background: The high prevalence of malnutrition in children and its association with mortality and growth retardation is an important health problem in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and factors associated with it in 2-5-year old children visiting the Kerman Saeidi Health Center in 2014.


Methods: This descriptive-analytic, cross- sectional study was carried out on 360 children (2-5 years old) referred to one of the health centers in suburbs of Kerman during 2014. Subjects were selected through stratified random sampling. Anthropometric parameters of children were measured and data were extracted using WHO Anthro software. Data were analyzed using χ2 and logistic regression and through SPSS19 software.


Results: Two hundred and two children (56%) were female. Thirty three children (9.2%) had moderate and severe underweight, 55 ones (15.2%) suffered from moderate and severe wasting and 23 children (6.4%) had moderate and severe stunting. Frequency of all types of malnutrition was higher in low birth weight children.


Conclusions: According to the results, mild malnutrition was the most common type of malnutrition. Because, even mild malnutrition puts children at risk, it is recommended that family physicians pay more attention to the nutritional status of these children to prevent the progress of mild malnutrition toward moderate and severe forms.


Key words: Children, Growth, Malnutrition, Kerman, Anthropometric indices