Malnutrition and its associated factors among rural school children in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt.

Type Working Paper
Title Malnutrition and its associated factors among rural school children in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt.
Author(s)
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URL http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/aip/4783791.pdf
Abstract
Background: In low and middle income countries, malnutrition especially among children is an increasing health problem. Objectives: To assess the level of malnutrition and its associated factors among school children in a rural setting in Fayoum governorate, Egypt. Methodology: A school based cross sectional survey was conducted on rural school children (6-17years) in Manshit El Gamal village in Tamia district of Fayoum Governorate. Weight, height, and age data were used to calculate z-scores of the three different nutritional indicators using WHO anthroPlus. Sociodemographic, lifestyles and dietary habits were collected using a pretested interview questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of Stunting (HAZ <-2SD), underweight (WAZ<-2 SD), and wasting (BAZ <-2SD) was 34.2%, 3.4% and 0.9% respectively, while obesity based on BMI z-score (BAZ >+2SD) was 14.9%. Prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in younger age group of 6-9 years old in comparison with older age groups. Prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in males versus females (16.7% versus 8.0% , p=0.021) in 10-13 years’ age group. Increasing age, reduced poultry consumption and escaping breakfast were associated factors for stunting with OR (95%CI) 1.27(1.17-1.37), 2.19(1.4-3.4), and 2.3(1.07-5.03), while daily fruit consumption was a protective one with OR 0.614(0.439-859). Younger age and regular employment of the father were factors associated with obesity (OR=0.753; 0.688-0.824 and OR= 2.217; 1.4-3.5) Conclusion: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in rural school children of Fayoum in line with the national prevalence and significantly associated with age, gender, , regularity of father’s employment in addition to dietary factors.

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