Malnutrition situation among Hmong children under five in Che Cu Nha commune, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province

Abstract

This study was implemented in Che Cu Nha commune, a highland commune having more than 90% Hmong people. The population of the study is 248 Hmong children under five years and their mothers. In this study, anthropometry was used to measure some anthropometrical sizes of children under five. The data was input into WHO Anthro 2005 software to identify the malnutrition rate. In addition, in-depth interviewing was used to find the factors related to the malnutrition of these children. The results indicate that the malnutrition rate is related to several factors. There are close relationships between the malnutrition weight/age and the quantity of food in the households, the beginning of supplemental eating, and the time of weaning for children. Therefore, education and knowledge for the communities about nutritional care, especially for the mothers, is very important, with the aims of improving health and reducing the malnutrition rate of children