title: The prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors in children attending outpatient clinics in the city of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors in children aged 0-10 years attending outpatient clinics in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. A cross-sectional epidemiological study of a population of 347 children was conducted. Data concerning socio-economic levels and food consumption were obtained by interviewing the accompanying guardian of each child. Dietetic evaluation was conducted using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and faecal samples were examined by optical microscopy. Anthropometric measurements were transformed into percentiles and z-scores, and nutritional status was evaluated by reference to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicators. Factors associated with undernutrition were analysed using a random-effects logistic regression model. The overall prevalences of underweight, stunting and wasting were 18.1, 15.5 and 10.7%, respectively, with reference to CDC growth curves, and 14.3, 17.3 and 4.4%, respectively, with reference to NCHS growth curves. The overall prevalence of wasting was statistical higher according to the CDC reference than that estimated using the NCHS reference (P=0.02). The prevalence rate of intestinal parasites was 58.8%. Risk factors associated with malnutrition were: low educational level of guardian respondent (OR=4.55), energy intake <54.5 kcal/kg (OR=4.55), children in age group 6-10 years (OR=3.54), and attendance at outpatient clinic for paediatric visit (OR=2.71). In the studied population, malnutrition (stunting, underweight and wasting) and parasite infection still represent serious public health problems. The risk factors identified in the present study confirm the influence of socio-economic factors on the nutritional status of children.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelle M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fausto
authors.forename: Erica L M
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Maria L F N
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Benetton
authors.forename: Mariângela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors