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Nutritional status of schoolchildren in rural Iran
Zahra Sarraf1, Dena Goldberg, Mohammad Shahbazi
1Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Insights
This study found high rates of malnutrition and anemia in Iranian schoolchildren, with no significant differences between ethnic groups. Iron supplementation improved hemoglobin levels, suggesting micronutrient deficiencies are a key concern.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional epidemiology
- Pediatric health
- Public health
Background:
- Assessing the nutritional status of children is crucial for public health interventions.
- Ethnic minority groups and rural populations often face unique nutritional challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the nutritional status of schoolchildren from ethnic minority tribes and a Persian village.
- To identify prevalence of malnutrition (wasting, stunting) and anemia.
- To evaluate the impact of iron supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study over 1.5 years measuring height, weight, and blood parameters in schoolchildren.
- Anthropometric measurements (height, weight) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were assessed.
- Iron (Fe) supplementation was provided to anemic children.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of wasting (21%), stunting (57%), and anemia (23%) observed.
- No significant differences in malnutrition or anemia between genders or ethnic groups.
- Iron supplementation improved Hb levels in most children, but deficiencies persisted in some.
Conclusions:
- Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly zinc and iron, are likely causes of stunting and anemia.
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a potential contributing factor to iron-deficiency anemia.
- Further research is needed to pinpoint the exact causes of these nutritional deficiencies.
Abstract:
The present study compared the nutritional status of schoolchildren from recently settled, ethnic minority tribespeople with those from a Persian village in southern Iran. Height and weight were measured and blood was collected from school children at three time points over 1.5 years. Supplemental Fe was provided to children with low Hb after the first screening. Twenty-one per cent of the children were wasted, 57 % were stunted and 23 % were anaemic. No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of wasting, stunting and anaemia was found between gender or ethnic groups. Children over the age of 12 years had a higher prevalence of wasting than children aged below 12 years. In a sub-sample of forty-one children the average BMI-for-age decreased. Fe supplementation increased Hb levels to normal in most children, but did not increase Fe level in a few children. Dietary deficiency of micronutrients, especially Zn and Fe, probably accounts for the high prevalence of stunting and anaemia in these children. Infection with Helicobacter pylori is another possible explanation for the Fe-deficiency anaemia. Further investigation is in progress to determine the cause(s) of the observed deficiencies.
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