ABSTRACT
Objective To learn the current neglected situation and its impact factors on rural children in two provinces in Western China.Methods The investigation was conducted by using multistage stratified cluster sampling method in some parts of the Shaanxi province and the city of Chongqing.Results 1488 subjects,aged from 0 to 6,were recruited in the present study.Results showed that the total prevalence rates of neglected rural children in the two research sites were 31.59％ and 48.32 respectively.No significant difference was found on the prevalence of neglected for boys and girls ( x2 =0.86,U=1.51,P ＞ 0.05 ).The degrees of negligence in the older children showed a significant increase than in the younger children (x2 =13.36,F=33.45,P＜ 0.05 ).The prevalence and degree of negligence in families with three generations were lower than that of a single-parent families and remarried families (H=10.03,F=2.83,P＜0.05).The one-child-families were significantly lower than multiple children families,both in terms of prevalence and degree of negligence.Our data demonstrated the degrees of negligence in children whose parents were away from home,were higher than the children whose parents stayed with them ( x2=30.30,U=6.76,P＜0.05).The degree of negligence in Shaanxi was lower than that in Chongqing (x2=9.42,U=8.40,P＜0.05).Based on multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis,the determinants of stunting among the stranded children were as follows:parents were away from home (OR=1.54,95％ CI:1.20-1.97) ;structure of the family (OR=1.38,95％ CI:1.16-1.65) ; father' s occupation (OR=0.87,95％ CI:0.78-0.97) ; schooling of the children' s mother (OR=1.27,95％CI:1.07-1.52) ; relationship between children and their fathers (OR =1.43,95％ CI:1.07-1.91 ) etc.Conclusion The situation of negligence in children living in the rural areas,were serious in Shaanxi and Chongqing provinces,which called for the strengthening on the publicity and education of the issue.School and the society should also pay more attention to this problem.