[Factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan Province, China].

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe the situation and identify factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan Province in 2015. Methods: 8 735 rural infants and young children aged 6-23 months in 30 poor counties of Wuling Mountains and Luoxiao Mountains in Hu'nan province were selected by township-level probability proportional to size sampling (PPS) in August 2015, infants' body length and weight were measured, and questionnaires were used to collect infants' information on personal and family, and feeding status in the past 24 h. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were calculated according to the Growth Standards of Child Aged Under 7 in China which was established in 2009 by Community Health Department of National Health and Family Planning Commission, China (formerly Chinese MOH), and the prevalence of malnutrition was calculated according to the classification of children with anthropometric failure. Multi non-conditional logistic regression model were used to analyze factors associated with malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months was 13.7% (1 198/8 735), the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting among infants and young children aged 6-23 months were 4.8% (419/8 735), 9.7% (849/8 735) and 6.1% (531/8 735) respectively. Compared with male group, the OR value of malnutrition for the female group was 1.16; Compared with Han ethnic group, the OR value of malnutrition for the Miao and Tujia ethnic group were 0.83 and 0.66, respectively; Compared with mother with an education level of primary school or below, the OR value of malnutrition for the mother with junior high school, senior high school and university or above education were 0.65, 0.61 and 0.56, respectively; Compared with father with an education level of primary school or below, the OR value of malnutrition for the father with senior high school and university or above education were 0.71 and 0.61 respectively; Compared with normal birth weight group, the OR value of malnutrition for the low birth weight group and high birth weight group were 2.85 and 0.27 respectively; Compared with normal delivery group, the OR value of malnutrition for the premature delivery group was 1.37; all P values<0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in poor rural areas in Hunan province in 2015 was high; Infants and young children who were female, Han ethnic, parents with low education, low birth weight and premature delivery had higher risk of malnutrition.