Prevalence of Malnutrition among Kindergartens Children in Southeast of Iran

Malnutrition accounts as the most common nutritional disorder in developing countries, and it is as one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on kindergartens children in Zabol, southeast of Iran. 322 children selected through randomized cluster stratified sampling method. Anthropometric measurements were used to identify the percentage of malnutrition. Mothers of the children invited to participate by answering a set of questionnaires for mothers. Underweight, wasting and stunting among kindergarten were 5%, 7.1% and 7.3% respectively. Obesity based on index weight to height observed in 0.9% of children.

Significant relationship revealed among mother education levels, parents ’occupation and monthly income with the ratio of height to age (H/A) (p<0.05). Analysis of data showed a significant relationship among variables such as type of feeding and age of multivitamin intake, with ratio of W/A (p<0.05). Also a significant relationship revealed among daily intake of multivitamin and age of multivitamin intake with the ratio H/A (p<0.05).

The prevalence of malnutrition based on weight for age and height for age and weight to height that mentioned in current research as indicators of malnutrition, may not be represent the nutritional status in these age groups.