Nutritional status and related factors among Raglai ethnic minority children under 5 years old in two mountainous districts of Khanh Hoa province in 2013

Abstract

      Malnutrition has been a critical health problem in developing countries. It is also becoming a serious health problem among ethnic minority groups. Raglai ethnic minority people are mainly living in 2 mountainous districts of Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh, Khanh Hoa provỉnce. A survey on nutritional status of Raglai Children, under five years old, aimed to determine malnutrition rate among them and its related factors.

Methodology: The study was designed as the cross-sectional study to measure and calculate anthropometric indices: weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height. WHO Anthro software and Stata 12.0 were used to analyze anthropometric indices and possible associations.

Resuits: Undenweight and Stunting mainutrition of Raglai children under 5 years old living in Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh districts were very high, at 56.5% and 68.7%, respectively. There was an increasing tendency of malnutrition proportional to children age groups, which reached the peak at the age group of 2 - < 3 years old. The malnutrition rate was significantly higher in children whose mothers have low educational level.

Conciusion: Malnutrition status in Raglai children under five years of age living in Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh district was an aiarming condition. Urgent and effective intervention strategies should be undertaken to resolve this problem.