Malnutrition prevalence among rural school students

To determine the protein-energy malnutrition prevalence and influencing factors among the rural school students of 6-12 years in Shahrood, Iran.

This was a cross-sectional study of protein-energy malnutrition among 890 school students using the cluster and random sampling methods. To determine the malnutrition prevalence status the anthropometric methods were used and compared with the NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics) standards. The nutritional status below -2SD was considered as an index of malnutrition and above or equal to -2SD as normal.

The findings showed that the prevalence of malnutrition in relation to W/A, H/A and W/H were 14.7%, 15.3%, and 11.6% respectively. It was noted that malnutrition among the boys was significantly more than the girls and that eating after breakfast was effective in wasting. In addition it was found that 11.6% of children need to be helped by nutritional interventions and 14.7% need urgent attention.

The results revealed that the incidence of malnutrition was higher than the WHO (World Health Organization) standards. It was also revealed that children suffered with stunting, wasting and underweight. It seems that it is necessary to pay enough attention to children's nutritional status in rural senings.