title: Profile of protein energy malnutrition amongst children under four years in urban areas of Rivers State.
abstract: The incidence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in Rivers State children aged 0-4 years has been studied. The incidence rate for a period of 30 months investigated gave a range of 3.97 to 4.81% of the total number of patients examined while the point prevalence gave a range of 0.13 to 0.99% of the total urban population of children aged 0-4 years. PEM was found to occur at a very low rate in Rivers State and persisted throughout the period investigated. PEM occurred in both males and females. The mean difference between the two sexes was not significant (p > 0.05) suggesting a non-sex dependent PEM within this age range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Akaninwor
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Abbey
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ayalogu
mesh_terms: D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health