Nutritional status of Palestinian children attending primary health care centers in Gaza.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status of Palestinian children less than two years old and the associated risk factors. METHODS: The study was descriptive cross-sectional of 102 children attending the main four primary health care centers in the Gaza Strip during summer 2003. Data were collected through medical records and meeting interviews with children's mothers by face to face. Questionnaire was subjected to validity and reliability procedures before being used. Descriptive analyses and cross tabulation were used. RESULTS: The study showed that the prevalence of anemia was 72.8% among children. Anthropometrical indices showed that the prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight were 34.3%, 31.4%, 31.45% respectively. CONCLUSION: Palestinian children are at high risk of health problems related to malnutrition. Informing Gazean families about the importance of following healthy dietary habits especially breastfeeding could improve child's nutritional status in parallel with overcoming the devastating economic condition.