Prevalence of malnutrition in preschool childrenin Birjand City in 2010

Children malnutrition is one of the important health problems in developing countries. Assessing anthropometric indicators are the most important tools to evaluate growth and nutritional status in children. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of malnutrition in preschool children. This cross-sectional and descriptive analytical study was done on 1132 preschool children in Birjand selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data was collected using a questionnaire and by measuring weight and height of the children on the basis of the standard method. Nutritional status of the children was evaluated according to three indexes: weight for age (e. g. underweight)، height for age (e. g. stunting)، and weight for height (e. g. wasting). Then، the results were compared with WHO standards. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software and chi-square test، taking P<0. 05 as the significant level. 46. 5% of the children were boys and malnutrition prevalence regarding underweight، wasting، and stunting was 42. 8%، 61% and 19. 2% respectively. There was a significant relationship between malnutrition and mother''s age، gender، job، educational level، and residence with the three indices underweight، wasting، and stunting; and also between household size and stunting (P<0. 05). However، there wasn''t a significant relationship between malnutrition، household size، and birth order. Regarding high prevalence of malnutrition in preschool children and its relationship to socio-economic variables، the problem may be reduced through increasing families'' income and parents'' educational level.