Low birth weight as a determinant of protein energy malnutrition in "0-5 years" Omani children of South Batinah region, Oman.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the risk factors of protein energy malnourishment (PEM) among 0-5 year old children in South Batinah region, Oman.


METHODS
at are maintained at the primary health institutions of the study area. This case control study was conducted between March 2003 and May 2003. The information of their birth weight, birth interval, birth order, twin pregnancy, history of underweight and death among siblings, presence of congenital anomalies, breast feeding status, social problem and other ail


RESULTS
The median birth order among PEM cases was significantly higher compared to the children without PEM (Mann Whitney test; p=0.029). Using multivariate logistic regression technique, we found that low birth weight (odds ratio [OR] 2.32; confidence intervals [CI] 95% 1.61-3.33), higher birth order (OR 1.04; CI 95% 1.01-1.08) and sibling with history of under weight [OR 1.79 (CI 95% 0.97- 3.28)] were significant predictors of PEM.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to identify children with high-risk of PEM using information on birth weight, birth order and history of PEM in sibling. This non-anthropometric method can be used as an additional tool for monitoring growth of children and formulate preventive interventions.
Department of Health Affairs, Directorate of Health Services, Ministry of Health, PO Box 2, Postal Code 318, Rustaq, Oman. padmamohanj@yahoo.com
Padmamohan J
PJ
Kurup
Rajiv
R
Khandekar
D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric