Etude Clinico-Biologique de la Malnutrition Protéique Chez l’Enfant dans l’Ouest Algérien

Abstract

Undernutrition is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status and their predictors in children from 0 to 5 years of age. Study design: A cross-sectional study was conducted.A total of 1285 individuals were enrolled between January and May 2011. Children weremeasured, and height for age (HAZ),weight for height (WHZ) and bodymass index (BAZ) Z-score were computed. Global acute undernutrition is defined as weight for height <1 Zscore (wasting < 2 Z-scores) and global chronic undernutrition as length/height for age <1 Z-score (stunting < 2 Z-scores). Relevant information was collected from individual health bulletins, namely gestational age and birth weight, aswell asweight at 6, 12, 18 and 24months For all individual above these ages. Mothers were invited to answer a specific questionnaire.