Some factors related to malnutrition status among children 24 - 71 months old in Yen Son district, Tuyen Quang province, in 2020

Abstract

Malnutrition in children under 5 years old has been and is one of the public health concerns in the Northern mountainous provinces. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 4,196 children 24 to 71 months old at 10 preschools in Yen Son districts, Tuyen Quang province in 2020, to explore some factors related to the children’s malnutrition. The results showed that a significant relationship between the household’s socioeconomic, the mother’s occupation, and history of low birth weight for all three types of malnutrition. Children from “poor and near-poor” socioeconomic householdsnhad a higher risk of stunting, underweight and wasting, respectively, 1.6 times, 2.1 times and 1.8 times (p < 0.05). Children whose mothers were farmers had a higher risk of malnutrition, respectively, 1.4 times, 1.6 times, and 1.7 times (p < 0.01). Children with a history of low birth weight < 2.500gr had a higher risk of malnutrition, respectively 2.2 times, 2.8 times and 2.7 times (p < 0.001). Besides, children with anorexia increase had an increased risk of underweight and a history of digestive disorders had an increased the risk of wasting. Therefore, it is necessary to improve socio-economic conditions, health care and nutrition in the first 1000 days of life to enhance malnutrition status.