A study on the prevalence rate of malnutrition and it's effective factors in children under two years in sari township 1999-2000

Background and Çonsidering the significance of nutrition status in the growth and development of children which is known as an important socioeconomic and health index of the society, this research was designed to study the prevalence of nutrition rate and it’s effective factors in children under 9 years. This research is cross sectional. Sampling was done randomly in 10 health services centers with 700 persons. Data were collected by descriptive method in the questionnairs designed for this purpose and measurment of weight and were analyzed statistically. Ôn the basis of Z score, 13.7% of the children on weight-age ratio had malnutrition, 3.9% with severe and moderate one. Malnutrition increased significantly after 6 months of age (P<0.0001). The rate of malnutrition was significantly more in boys than girls (P<0.001). The rate of malnutrition in children with educated mother was less as compare to children with uneducated mother (P<0.0001). Âlso there was significant dependence between malnutrition and breast feeding variables (P<0.02), the history of hospitalization (P<0.004), family members (P<0.02) and regular consumption of multivitamins (P<0.0001). Çonclusion: Malnutrition is considered as a health service problem in a major group of children under 2 years in sari township and attention of the predisposing factors can be helpful in it’s control.