Assessment of nutritional status of some primary school children and their awareness in slum areas

ABSTRACT

Worldwide, malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood. It is still a major health problem in Egyptian community especially in primary school children. Slum populations living in adverse conditions represent nutritionally vulnerable groups that need immediate attention. This is a cross sectional survey study including 1000, [501urban, 499 rural] primary school children, all were subjected to anthropometric measurements, clinical examination, hemoglobin% and stool analysis as well as assessment of feeding practice and nutritional awareness. Also, a questionnaire was conducted on a sample group of persons surrounding the children to evaluate their nutritional awareness. The results showed that 76.9% of urban and 69.3% of rural children are underweight; 9.8% urban and 12.8% rural are stunted; more urban children are anemic than rural group [33% vs 20%, p=<0.05]. About 50% of examined stools were positive. The majority of children have had feeding practices. Only 33.9% of urban children and 29.3% of rural ones have complete balanced diet. Almost all children have a weak level as regard their nutritional awareness; also more tan half of parents [56%] have weak level of nutritional awareness. Children living in slum areas, both urban and rural, suffer from malnutrition diseases which are attributed, not only to the lack of nutritional awareness of the children and their contacts, but also to the adverse socioeconomic conditions. Attention to education, poverty alleviation, appropriate feeding practices, prevention and treatment of infections are required to assist in combating malnutrition in this district