CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD IN TWO REMOTE COMMUNES IN LAO CAI PROVINCE ARE AT HIGH RISKS OF MALNUTRITION, PARTICULARLY STUNTING
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Abstract
Lao Cai province is a mountainous area in Vietnam that has been facing with food insecurity and high prevalence of malnutrition. Objective: to determine the prevalence of
malnutrition and associated factors among children under 24 months of age in Ban Pho
commune, Bac Ha district and Thao Chu Phin commune, Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai
province. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted that measuring weight and
length of 194 children aged under 24 months and interviewing their primary caregiver.
Results: The prevalence of underweight was 16.6%, stunting was 47.6% and wasting
was 2.4%; compared with children aged below 12 months, OR for being underweight and
stunting of children aged 12-24 months was 3.27 (95% CI: 1.39; 7.72, p = 0.007) and 2.90
(95%CI: 1.61; 5.24, p <0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Stunting is a significant public
health problem for children under 24 months of age in the two communes.
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Keywords
Malnutrition, underweight, stunting, children aged 12-24 months, Lao Cai