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[Prevalence of malnutrition in the Mbao Health District]
1Service de Médecine Préventive et de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université CAD, Dakar, Sénégal.
Insights
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) affects 43.6% of children under five in Mbao, Senegal. Interventions should focus on nutritional education and improving socioeconomic status for better child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a critical health issue in developing nations, particularly in Africa.
- Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors of PEM in young children is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) among children aged 0-5 years in the Mbao health district of Senegal.
- To identify potential associations between PEM and sociodemographic factors in the study population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 1995, involving 204 children aged 0-5 years utilizing a health center.
- Anthropometric data (weight-for-age Z-score) and sociodemographic information were collected and analyzed using WHO/CDC Epi Info 6.0.
- The international reference population (NCHS/CDC/WHO) was used for comparison.
Main Results:
- A significant prevalence of PEM was observed, with 89 (43.6%) children affected.
- The majority of children with PEM were between 6-29 months old (over 60%) and lived in the vicinity of Mbao (83.2%).
- No statistically significant relationship was found between PEM and the studied sociodemographic parameters.
Conclusions:
- Strengthening management of malnourished children in specialized centers is crucial.
- Educating families on the nutritional value of local foods and improving socioeconomic status are vital for better access to nutritious products.
- Community-based nutritional programs and improved access to healthcare services are recommended to combat PEM.
Abstract:
Protein-energy malnutrition is a real health priority in developing countries specially in african ones. So, a cross-sectional study was conducted, from April 14 to July 28 1995, in the health district of Mbao in Senegal, to determine the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in a population of children 0-5 year old utilizing the health center, for a curative care, an immunization, a growth monitoring. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected and analysed using a microcomputer with WHO/CDC Epi Info 6.0. The index weight/age expressed on Zscore was used with comparison to NCHS/CDC/WHO population's international reference. Among 204 children, 89 (43.6%) present a PEM.51 (57.3%) are male. More than 60% of the children with PEM are 6-29 months old. 74 (83.2%) live in the surroundings of Mbao. They all come from different ethnic group. 67.4% utilize the health center for a curative care and 7.9% for growth monitoring. There is no relation statistically significant between protein-energy malnutrition and the parameters we studied. To overcome such problem, it is necessary to strengthen the management of malnourished children in specialized centers, to educate families in the nutritional properties of local products and to improve the socioeconomic status of the population for better access to these products.