[Cross-sectional study to evaluate risk factors in infant malnutrition]

Malnutrition is a major health problem in our country by maintaining a high number of infants with poor nutritional status. Various studies have highlighted the role of infant's malnutrition in the development of adult diseases.

We made a cross-sectional study during six months (October 2010 - March 2011) on a group of 63 infants admitted in Pediatric Recovery Department-Children's Hospital, Iasi; we evaluated the presence of risk factors for malnutrition. The data were processed using SPSS 16 and Epilnfo 3.5.2. (December 2010).

The infants were predominantly female (52,4%); the most affected age group was 5-24 weeks (84,11%). Most of them came from rural areas (79,4%), from families with low socioeconomic income (95,2%), mothers with a low educational status (63,4%), housewives (88,9%). We noted the presence of previous diseases in 71,4% infants. Only 12 infants received breast milk for a short time (three weeks), the other 51 infants have been bottle-fed since birth. Complementary food was incorrect in 68,42% cases. With a proper diet the mean weight gain was 895,68 g and the Z score values (weight for age, height for age, weight for height) have improved during an average of 34,15 days; positive correlation between these factors is strong.

Low socio-economic income, rural areas, low maternal educational level, diet errors, small infants with multiple previous diseases are the main risk factors in malnutrition's occurrence. We consider particularly important to solve social problems too, not only the medical, because when the infant returns in the same disadvantaged family there is an increased risk for malnutrition to recur.