Characteristics of stunting malnutrition among children 6 - 24 months in some ethnic minority communes in two provinces of Highland area, 2022

Abstract

The rate of stunting among children in the Highland is one of the highest in the country. This article was conducted to describe the characteristics of stunting malnutrition among children 6 - 24 months in some ethnic minority communes of Gia Lai and KonTum province in 2022. The cross-sectional study was applied on 703 of 6 - 24 months children and their mothers in 5 communes in Gia Lai and Kon Tum, from 8/2021 to 6/2022. The results showed that the rate of stunting malnutrition was quite high (34.2%), mainly of them was moderate malnutrition (25.0%), the highest rate was in children 13 - 18 months group (41.6%). There was a statistically significant relationship between stunting and ethnicity, low birth weight, and exclusive breastfeeding status in the first 6 months of children. The rate of stunting in the group with mothers is famers, families have more than 2 children, poor and without hygienic latrines was higher than the rest groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). It is necessary to educate for ethnic minority’s mothers to improve their knowledge on maternity care, breast-feeding and use of hygienic latrines, contributing to reducing stunted children.