Malnutrition in Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Neurologically Impaired Children in Bulgaria

The nutritional status of children with neurological impairment affects their health and quality of life. Bulgaria has many abandoned disabled children in residential homes. Lack of parental care puts them at risk for poor growth, suboptimal nutrition, and physical and mental development. Our study aims to identify factors associated with poor nutrition in Bulgarian children with neurological impairment living in different environments.

From January to December 2017, a cross-sectional study was conducted in northeastern Bulgaria. We recruited 109 residential and nonresidential children. The study included demographics, medical history, anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests, nutritional assessment, and gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Data were analyzed with Jamovi 2.2.5 at a 0.05 significance level. Logistic regression was used to predict wasting in both environmental settings.

About 70% of the neurologically impaired children living in residential settings have malnutrition based on weight-for-age Z-score, compared to 25% of the non-residential children. Prematurity, low gross motor function (as measured by the gross motor function classification system), pureed food consumption, birth before 37 weeks, and living in residential care homes are linked to poor nutrition.

Neurologically impaired children have a poor nutritional state, especially those living in residential homes. The study underscores the pressing need for the allocation of additional nutrition resources to effectively address the nutritional and developmental needs of children with neurological disabilities in Bulgaria.