Survey on the influencing factors of malnutrition in rural children under 7 years of age in Gansu Province.
- Author:
Hong-Li XUE
1
;
Zhi-Lan LI
;
Peng-Min XIE
;
Hong LIU
;
Na JIN
;
Guo-Yan MA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Infant; Malnutrition; epidemiology; Prevalence; Rural Population; Surveys and Questionnaires
- From: Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2010;12(12):950-953
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study the status and influencing factors of malnutrition in rural children under 7 years of age in Gansu Province.
METHODSBy stratified random cluster sampling, 9 390 rural children under 7 years of age from 4 counties of Gansu Province were enrolled. A cross-sectional investigation on children's nutritional status was performed. The major influencing factors of malnutrition were evaluated by logistic regression analysis.
RESULTSThe detection rate of under-weight was 3.60% (338 cases). The growth retardation occurred in 992 cases (10.56%). Athrepsy was found in 196 cases (2.49%) out of 7 868 children under 5 years of age. Gender, age, birth weight, life style, parents' educational level and family income were influencing factors of malnutrition.
CONCLUSIONSMore attention should be paid to the issue of malnutrition of rural children under 7 years of age in Gansu Province. The prevalence of malnutrition may be reduced through increasing family income and nutrition education, and improving parents' education level and children's life style.
