[The status on care and nutrition of 774 children staying in rural areas while parents were in towns].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the status on care and nutrition of children living in the rural areas (so called 'left-behind' children) while their parents were seeking for jobs in the urban areas.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study was employed in this investigation. The group of 'left-behind' children (n = 774) and the comparison group (n = 774) were identified. The ascertainment methods mainly included questionnaire, anthropometrics measurements, food-frequency, and laboratory examination.


RESULTS
Data from this study revealed that the guardians of the 'left-behind' children had less ability to ensure daily food that the children demanded than the control group and the 'left-behind' children were more likely to be poorly attended (chi2 = 6.671, P = 0.036; xhi2 = 15.053, P = 0.001). Mothers who chose to work outside of their households would tend to choose bottle-feeding or decrease the duration of breastfeeding for their infants (chi2 = 5. 051, P = 0.031; t = -7.201, P = 0.001). The intake of milk and bean products in children younger than 2 years old and cereal intake in children aged 2 to 4 in the group of 'left-behind' children were obviously lower than that seen in the control group (t = -2.150, P = 0.032; t = -2.054, P = 0.040 respectively). The 'left-behind' children were in high prevalence of anemia, and showed significant difference when comparing with the control group (chi2 = 4.560, P = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Children under 'left-behind' situation were in poor nutrition. Recognition of this situation by the communities, parents and extended families would facilitate more attention and effective intervention programs to improve the situation.
Peng
Xi-Chun
XC
Department of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Luo
Jia-You
JY
Yao
Kuan-Bao
KB
Hu
Ru-Shan
RS
Du
Qi-Yun
QY
Zhu
Ming-Yuan
MY
D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population