[Current status and the 10 years trend in the malnutrition indexes of children under 5 years in Iran]

Malnutrition is one of the main nutritional problems among children under 5 years especially in developing countries. The effects of malnutrition in this range of age group includes; disorder of mental and physical growth and development, increase in the morbidity and mortality, decrease of the learning capacity. A detailed epidemiological picture of the prevalent malnutrition status among children under 5 years in different regions of Iran enables health policy makers to identify priorities, establish political commitment and design appropriate interventional programs to prevent and control malnutrition and improve nutritional status of children. To determine the prevalence rate of malnutrition among children under 5 years. Demographic data, weight and height of 34200 Iranian children between 0-72 months old in 28 provinces of the country in 2005 year based on a cluster sampling were gathered. The subjects' weight and height were measured by trained staff. Prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting indicators was determined by measuring the weight and height of subjects in urban and rural areas. EPI6 statistical software, version b6/04, was used for all statistical analyses. 4.7% of the children aged less than five years suffered from stunting [95% CI: 4.5- 4.9%] the prevalence of this type of malnutrition among urban children is significantly less than rural children [95% CI: 3.1- 3.5% and 6.5-7.1% respectively]. Meanwhile the prevalence of underweight was 5.2% in the country [95% CI: 5.1-5.4%] while the prevalence of this type of malnutrition was significantly less among urban children than those in rural ones. Moreover, the prevalence of wasting was 3.7% [95%CI: 3.5-3.9%] and there was a significant difference in this regard between the urban and rural children. Thus this indicator was significantly higher among urban children than those in rural areas [95%CI: 3.8-4.3% and 3.0-3.5% respectively]. The results of the study show that the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition was low among Iranian children under five years old. In comparison with previous studies, it is felt that there has been a prudent decrease in all malnutrition in all levels. However, there were significant differences in the prevalence of malnutrition in different provinces, which has resulted in the differences in their developmental stages as well. It appears that subjective strategies are required to improve the nutritional and health status among children under five in all provinces

effect of nutrition education on the knowlege and practice of elementary school children regarding junk food intake

Nutritional habits and behavior are acquired and established during childhood and can remain through the whole life. Proper nutrition in childhood results in enhancing the child growth and development and hinders the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Regarding the significance of nutritional training of school children, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of nutrition education on knowledge and nutritional practice of grade five elementary school children about junk food intake in Tabriz from 2004 to 2005. This experimental study was conducted on 487 students [from 16 schools] in two control and treatment groups. In this research two teaching styles [lecturing without teaching aids - and with teaching aids and group discussion] were performed for twelve sessions for the students. Data collecting tool was a questionnaire whose reliability and validity had been confirmed in advance. To investigate the effect of intervention of nutrition education in junk food consumption Solomon method was used. The results obtained from this study showed no significant difference between mean knowledge and practice of the students in control and education groups before intervention. However, after nutrition education there was a significant difference [P=0.005] between mean score of knowledge and practice in two groups and the mean score of practice in treatment group increased from 87.8 +/- 31.95 before intervention to 104.6 +/- 28.34 after intervention and the mean score of knowledge increased from 22.4 +/- 16.49 before intervention to 42.6 +/- 25.68 after intervention. In addition, knowledge and practice increased significantly in two groups [P=0.005]. The results were more favorable in girls than in boys [P=0.005]. Nutrition education plays a crucially important role in improvement of knowledge and practice, particularly in school. Replacement of junk food with nutritious, healthy food will reduce the complications posed by consumption of junk food. Parents, education also seems essential to reduce the consumption of junk food