[Optimistic factors affecting nutritional status among children during early childhood in rural areas of western China].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate optimistic factors affecting nutrition status of infants under 3-year-old in rural areas of western China.


METHODS
The data used in this study came from a cross-sectional survey on primary health and maternal and child health care in western rural China. The method of stratified multistage cluster random sampling was used to obtain the sample of children. Composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) was used to classify the infants with normal nutrition or malnutrition. Logistic regression model was employed to investigate optimistic factors effecting nutrition of infants from 3 levels as family, mother and children themselves.


RESULTS
14,532 qualified infants were obtained, 57.4% of them were boys. According to CIAF, 72.1% of children were found in normal nutritional status. Prevalence of malnutrition was 27.9% and 10.3% of children were both underweighted and retarded in growth. The result showed the children with better nutrition were from such families with high income, fathers with higher education and fewer children. Higher education for mothers and breastfeeding were optimistic factors effecting nutrition of infants under 6-month after family factors being controlled for. For children over 6 months old, the optimistic factors were heavy mother body weight and more education acquired, exclusive breast feeding within 4-month, introduction of foods containing more protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Family factors strongly influence nutritional status of rural children. Improving mothers'education and adding protein intake for children older than 6 months make their nutrition status better.
Dang
Shao-Nong
SN
Faculty of Public Health, School of Medical Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
Yan
Hong
H
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D012424:Rural Population