Incidence of Malnutrition in Karbala Teaching Hospital Inpatient and Associated Some Sociodemographic Factors

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a major health problem in pediatrics age group contribute to increase mortality and morbidity of admitted patients.

A descriptive randomized cross sectional study of 2965 cases between 6-60 months from which 500 cases had malnutrition from15th of November 2019 to 31th of January 2020 hospital based data to evaluate incidence of sever acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition and mild malnutrition and its relation to some sociodemographic factors (paternal job, birth weight, type of feeding, age, sex).

Results: The incidence of severe acute Malnutrition is 1%, the incidence of moderate acute malnutrition is 10% and mild malnutrition in 27% from the sample of patients taken 469 patients and this is a strong relationship of all degree of malnutrition to paternal age and low birth weight with some relation to type of feeding.

Conclusions: While the incidence of severe acute malnutrition has been decreased last years In Karbala teaching hospital, there is marked increase in incidence of moderate acute malnutrition and mild malnutrition with their impact on general pediatric health regarding morbidity and mortality efforts should be taken to manage the moderate acute malnutrition and mild malnutrition by offering nutritional advice and support especially in people who are not governmental Employers.