Pediatrician - based malnutrition reduction in children under 5 years of age: an interventional project a health- treatment center

ABSTRACT

Malnutrition, especially in the developing countries, is a common disease of children. Some causes of malnutrition are inappropriate supplementary feeding, parental low nutrition-related knowledge, and childhood diseases especially digestive and respiratory disorders. Various interventions have been made in different countries based on their present conditions and facilities. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of interventions conducted by nutrition consulting center based on pivotal role of pediatrician at health center over growth status in children suffering from malnutrition. In this intervening quasi -experimental study, 189 children between 6-48 months affected by malnutrition were identified and included in the investigation using random sampling method. After verifiying diagnosis by pediatrist, required interventions were made and growth indices were determined before and after the intervention. Who's Anthro software and graphs were used to evaluate growth indices. Results indicated that 17.8 and 9.1% of boys and girls were respectively suffering from acute thinness; however, after intervention these findings reduced to 4.4 and 5.1% respectively. Moreover, 14.4 and 6.1% of the boys and girls who suffered from acute low-weight showed meaningful lower problem the intervention. The interventions could not deal with shortness of stature in the society. Through setting up intervening centers pivoted by pediatricians at the center of the provinces aimed at recognizing and treating children suffering from malnutrition as well as activating referral systems, we may take a step forward into a better situation therein improving the status of children suffering from low weight and malnutrition