Assess the Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Children in primary healthcare Centers in Saudi Arabia, 2024

Abstract

Background: Child malnutrition is one of the most serious and least addressed health problems in the world and in Saudi Arabia. Continuous nutritional assessment of the vulnerable groups especially children is very important for the evaluation of health and nutritional status besides the result of evaluation may be a base for future Planning, prevention and control programs of the nutritional problems. Healthy nutrition is a necessary for people mental health, because of that nutritional habits effect on school performance.
The study aimed: To assess the nutritional status and to identify the associated risk factors of malnutrition among children in primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 341 children aged (6-12) years in primary healthcare centers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The assessment done by filling questionnaire about socio-demographic data, clinical examination, laboratory tests for hemoglobin detection and stool examination for all children.
Results: Underweight was present in 21.9% of cases, whereas stunting was present in 21.4% of cases. The frequency of hair lice was 10.9%, parasitosis was 32.8%, and anemia was 53.1%. The findings showed a substantial correlation between stunting and poor socioeconomic class, parasitosis, and underweight. Anemia, parasitosis, and low socioeconomic status were all substantially correlated with underweight.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The findings of the current study demonstrated a high frequency of malnutrition in children, which is strongly linked to parasitosis and anemia. Therefore, we advise highlighting the significance of anemia and parasitosis screening programs, with a particular emphasis on schoolchildren.