Asessment of protein energy malnutrition among the 6 to 59 months age children in sinkat locality red sea state

Abstract EN

Poor children feeding practices can lead to malnutrition which is a major public health problem in developing countries including sudan.

This cross sectional study was conducted during May 2011 to May 2012 to measure the prevalence rate of PEM among children of 6-59 months age and to assess the knowledge ,attitudes of mothers towards their children nutrition.

A stratified sampling techniques were used for selected 384 children .

The data collected by questionnaire and anthropometric measurement for weight & height of children and then categorized according to WHO guidelines.

The result revealed that the prevalence rate was 72% ,most infected age range between 1 to 3years,only (27% ) of mothers continue breast feeding when children were infected with diarrhoea, also the result indicated that there is a significant relationship between the protein energy malnutrition and age of the children and family size , also the study indicated that the persistent diarrhea or repeated attacks of acute respirotary infection, malaria and measles were underlying causes of PEM particularly for children in border line.

Therefore , increasing awareness to mothers about the nutrition ,and improvement of economic status of families is recommended.