Tình trạng suy dinh dưỡng và yếu tố liên quan ở trẻ em từ 0-36 tháng tuổi tại các huyện thị đồng bằng ven biển tỉnh Khánh Hòa

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2011 on 810 children 0-36 months old and their mothers in three communes in 3 coastal plain districts of Khanh Hoa province to identify risk factors of malnutrition. Results: The percentages of underweight, stunting, wasting, obesity were 10.1 percent, 18.4 percent, 3.6 percent, 2.6 percent respectively. Risk factors of all 3 malnutrition forms (underweight, stunting and wasting) were mother's practice on child feeding/child care of mothers and low birth weight of the child. Risk factor of both forms of underweight and stunting was early initiation of supplementary feeding (before 6 months of age). Risk factors of stunting included: Poor knowledge on child feeding/care of mothers, low expenditure for food per capita, mothers having more than 2 children, children who attending kindergarten, children who did not use milk and milk products. In order to improve the malnutrition status among children, we need to change mother's practices of early supplement feeding, improve mother nutrition during pregnancy, enhance provision of children's nutrition at the private kindergartens. For children 6 months or older, it is important to continue breastfeeding and use milk and milk products daily.