Prevalence of malnutrition & anemia in preschool children; a single center study

Italian Journal of Pediatrics

Research

Samah Bastawy¹  Mostafa Kamal¹  Eman Shaheen¹  Ahmed A. Ghandour²  Farah Wissa³  Hazem Hawees³  Ayman Elkhawass³  Mohamed Alaaeldin³  Amira Elshahawy⁴  Aly Yousef⁵  Ahmed Afifi⁵  Hanan Mina Fouad⁶  Sherine Shalaby⁷  Samah Rabie⁸ 

[1] Clinical and chemical Pathology Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;Intern in Helwan University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt;Pediatric Department, the National Nutrition Institute, General Organization of Teaching Hospitals, Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt;Pediatrics Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;Pediatrics Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), Cairo, Egypt;Pediatrics Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;Pediatrics Department, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt;Psychiatry Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;

关键词: Anemia;    Anthropometry;    Overweight/obese;    Preschool age;    Stunting;    Undernutrition;    Wasting;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13052-023-01476-x

 received in 2023-03-10, accepted in 2023-05-16,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMalnutrition including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies are considerable problems worldwide, with variable burdens among different communities. Its complications include physical and cognitive impairment, with the probability of irreversible lifelong consequences. We aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition, overweight, obesity, and anemia in preschoolers, being a risk group for developmental adverse events.MethodsWe recruited 505 healthy preschool children, with a male: female ratio of 1.05:1. Children with chronic diseases were excluded. We used anthropometry and complete blood count to screen for malnutrition and anemia.ResultsThe mean age of the study group was 3.8 ± 1.4 years (1.02–7). The screening results were average in 228 (45.1%) children, while 277 (54.9%) children had either abnormal anthropometry, anemia, or both. We observed undernutrition in 48 (9.5%) children; among them, 33 (6.6%) were underweight, 33 (6.6%) wasted, and 15 (3%) were stunted, with no significant difference between children aged below or above five. We identified overnutrition in 125 (24.8%); 43 (8.5%) were overweight, 12 (2.4%) were obese, and 70 (13.9%) had a high body mass index Z score, not qualifying the definition of overweight. Anemia was diagnosed in 141 (27.9%) children and was significantly more frequent among older children without gender discrimination. About 10% (50 children) had both anemia and abnormal anthropometry. The frequency of abnormal anthropometry was comparable between children with anemia and those with normal hemoglobin.ConclusionMalnutrition and anemia in preschoolers are still a heavy burden affecting about half of our study group, with an upward trend towards the overnutrition side. Anemia is still a moderate public health problem in preschoolers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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