Cross sectional study to assess Malnutrition and associated risk factors among primary school children in Kafr Sakr, Sharqia, Egypt

Mansour, Reham El-Sayed; Abu Zeid, Ali; Bahaa El Din, Rasha Mohammed

doi:10.21608/zumj.2019.14033.1284

Cross sectional study to assess Malnutrition and associated risk factors among primary school children in Kafr Sakr, Sharqia, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Family medicine, faculty of medicine, Zagazig Univercity

² Professor of Pediatric medicine,faculty of medicine,Zagazig University

³ Lecturer of Family medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

10.21608/zumj.2019.14033.1284

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Malnutrition is considered a global health burden mainly in the developing countries, because of the high prevalence and it's undesirable consequences on health. Objective: Assessment of the nutritional status of school age children and its associated risk factors. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 341 primary school children aged (6-12) years in Kafr Sakr district, Sharqia governorate, Egypt. The assessment done by filling questionnaire about socio-demographic data, clinical examination, laboratory tests for hemoglobin detection and stool examination for all children. Results: The prevalence of stunting and underweight was 21.4% and 21.9% respectively. Anemia prevalence was 53.1% , parasitosis prevalence was 32.8%, while hair lice prevalence was 10.9%. The results revealed that stunting was significantly associated with underweight, parasitosis and low socioeconomic class. Underweight was significantly associated with anemia, parasitosis and low socioeconomic class. Conclusion and Recommendations: The present study results showed high malnutrition prevalence among primary school children which is significantly associated with anemia and parasitosis. So, we recommend emphasizing the importance of screening program of anemia and parasitosis with focus on school children.

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