Evaluation of nutritional status and some related factors in children under 5 years old at 2 communes of Tien Giang province

ABSTRACT

Study on nutritional status of 866 children less than 5 years old who were living in 2 communes of Cai Be district, Tien Giang province. Results: prevalence of malnutrition in children <5 years old at 2 communes was 21.4%, in An Thai Dong commune was 21.2% and in My Trung commune was 21.4%. Malnutrition often was mild, 27.7% malnutrition children were between 12 and 24 months. However, there were overweight and obesity children. Most of mothers had knowledge of nutrition and nursing for their children. 79.69% mother knew that it’s necessary to give more fluid, 79.69% mother continued normal diet when their children suffered from diarrhea. There wasn’t any difference of nutritional status between a flooded commune and a normal commune. It wasn’t found the association of nutritional status and some factors such as nutritional habits, the time to give supplementary foods. It’s needed to strengthen education and communication activities in order to improve the nutritional knowledge and practice of the mothers, to reduce the rate of malnutrition as well as overweight and obesity in children <5 years old.