Level of Malnutrition and Failure to Thrive in 1-18 month old Infants

Aims: Two major health problems in the developing countries are malnutrition and growth failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth indices (height and weight) and rate of growth failure in 1- to 18-mounth infants.
Instrument &

In the analytic-descriptive cross-sectional study, 1- to 18-mounth infants referred to the health centers of Quchan were studied in two steps in 2012. 1002 infants were selected via available method classified in three age groups. Heights and weights of the infants were recorded. Height and weight diagrams were described. Data was analyzed by SPSS 14 software.
Findings: Less than 5 percentile height and weight in 1- to 6-mounth infants, in 7- to 12-mounth infants, and in 13- to 18-mounth infants were 7.9 and 3.5% (in females) and 8.6 and 2.4% (in males), 5.3 and 9.3% (in females) and 8.1 and 7.0% (in males), 11.6 and 8.6% (in females) and 9.7 and 6.5% (in males), respectively. In growth failure, the most prevalent ages in males (9.7%) and in females (9.3%) were 13- to 18-mounth and 7- to 12-mounth, respectively. Maximum frequency of less than 5 percentile height was in 13- to 18-mounth infants (both genders).

Based on WHO criteria, nutritional status is favorable in 1- to 18-mounth infants in Quchan.