Nutritional status, anemia, vitamin A deficiency and their ralated factors in young infants from 5 -8 months old of age in donghy district, Thai nguyen province

ABSTRACT

A iron sectional study was carried out on 323 children aged 5-8 months old in Dong Hy district, Thai Nguyen province from August 2002 to October 2003. Results showed malnutrition of underweight accounted for 3.1%, underheight 11.5%, neonatal weight < 2.500g was 8.4%, anemia 74.6% and vitamin A deficiency 39.3%. There is a closed and positive relation between anemia and vitamin A deficiency, children with anemia had a risk of vitamin A deficiency 2, 3 times higher than normal children and controversaly. Knowledge and practice of mothers on breast feeding, on children care and on supplemented foods have had large shortcomings