Impact of socio-economic disparities on the nutritional status of children aged 24-59 months

Abstract

Background: The malnutrition is the one of the biggest reasons, which effects negative to children’s body-and intelligence development. Pediatric malnutrition (undernutrition) is estimated to contribute to approximately 45% of all child deaths globally. Goal: We aimed to research the nutritional status of children aged 24-59 months compared to their mother’s education and their living standards. Methodology: By using cross sectional study, we investigated 1007 children between 24-59 months and their mothers, who live in 8 and 9th Khoroo in Bayanzurkh district. Evaluating the research was based on the WHO’s developed standard table, which evaluate the children’s nutritional status in three criteria, and the deviation from the standard mean value was defined as (Z-score). Research statistical processing was accomplished by using “SPSS 25.0” and EXCEL 2013 software. Results: 481 males and 526 females out of 1007 children aged 24-59 months in our study. The result showed that 10.7% (n= 108) of total children had stunting and among of them 19% (n=20) are stunting who are between 42 and 47 months. (Р=0.008) and compared to sex, 14.3% were boys. (Р=0.0001) Of the total children surveyed, 0.2% (2) were underweight and 5.3% (44) were overweight. Underweight is statistically significant with mother’s education (P=0.011). Mother’s education and living standards were not statistically signification for other child malnutrition. (mother’s education P=0.767, living standard P=0.357) Conclusions: 10.7% of children aged 24-59 months in have stunting, 0.2% underweight and 5.3% overweight, of which boys were stunting 14.3%, 9% overweight. Underweight is statistically significant with mother’s education and other children's nutritional status is not significantly related to their mother's education and living standards.