Assessment of children nutritional status at primary health care

Abstract

A study about the nutritional status of 206 children, between 1-7 years old, who were attended at a primary care center for several reasons, was carried out. A nutritional index which correlates age, weight and height was used for this aim. The following results were found: undernourished children 9 %; nomonourisheds 60 %; overnourisheds 19 % and obeses 12 %. The overweight and obesity had the highest incidence between 4-7 years of age. No differences with regard to sex were found. The nutritional index of undernourished and obese children was compared to brachial parameters. There was a good correlation. Likewise, all mothers were surveyed about the childrens appetite. It is emphasized that the 36,8 % of mothers of undernourished children thought their sons ate adequately; the 45,9 % of mothers of normonourished children thought their sons ate badly or insufficiently and the 7,7 % of mothers of obese children thought they ate insufficiently.