Publication:

Related factors of the nutritional status of malnutrition in Cham ethnic children aged 6-24 months

Background This study aims to identify factors related to the nutritional status of children aged 6-24 months of the Cham ethnic group in Tan Chau town, An Giang province in 2018.

Methods It was a cross-sectional study. Cham ethnic children aged from 6 to 24 months at the time of the survey and their mothers living in Tan Chau town, An Giang province were included in the study as subjects.

Results In the underweight group, the risk of malnutrition for subsequent children is 2.5 times higher compared to the first-born children in the family, and this difference is statistically significant with p 0.05. In the underweight and wasted groups, children who frequently fall ill have a higher rate of malnutrition compared to those who do not fall ill often; however, this difference is not statistically significant with p>0.05. No correlation has been found between the presence of congenital disabilities and the condition of stunting in children with p>0.05.

Conclusions Several factors related to the personal lives of Cham ethnic children aged 6-24 months contribute to the state of malnutrition. It is necessary to enhance communication and counseling efforts to help reduce the malnutrition rate among children in the area as well as within the community.