Growth and nutritional status of rural preschool children in El Minia governorate
Saleh, S.M.; El Sherif, M.A.
New Egyptian Journal of Medicine 8(3): 820-823
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-1946 PMID: 12320841 Document Number: 339019
Full histories, clinical examinations, and anthropometric measurements were taken on 392 male and 352 female preschool children 1-71 months of age in Bani Ahmed Village, El-Minia Governorate, to assess their growth, the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition, and the influence of selected risk factors upon subjects' nutritional status. The children were selected for inclusion in the study through systematic random sampling. They were found to be both lighter and shorter than children of similar ages studied in Assiut, Lower Egypt, some developing countries, and the developed countries. The weight, height, and head circumference of males were not significantly different than those of females. There was a 72.2% prevalence of malnutrition, with the highest prevalence of 83.7% being in the age group 6-23 months. The prevalence of wasting was 31.6%, with the highest prevalence of 62% also being in the age group 6-23 months. The prevalence of stunting was 76.5%, highest among children aged 24-35 months at 87.4%. Low socioeconomic status, increased birth order, recurrent diarrhea, and non-breastfeeding were high risk factors for the prevalence of malnutrition in the sample.