Open AccessNutritional status survey of preschool children in Kuwait
Author(s) -
Amine Ek,
Al-Awadi Fa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/1996.2.3.386
Subject(s) - wasting , socioeconomic status , malnutrition , birth order , medicine , affect (linguistics) , demography , pediatrics , obesity , family income , environmental health , population , psychology , endocrinology , communication , pathology , sociology , economic growth , economics
The nutritional status of 645 male and 635 female preschool children in Kuwait was assessed. Mothers were interviewed to collect data on socioeconomic variables. The length/height and body weight of the children were recorded and haemoglobin concentration was determined. The results show that 11.5% of the boys and 9.9% of the girls were stunted;the prevalence of wasting was fairly similar in both sexes [10.1%-10.9%]. Obesity was more prevalent in girls [18.4%] than boys [16.1%]. Anaemia was more prevalent in boys [32.9%] than girls [25.8%]. Factors such as birth order, family income and mother’s education and employment were found to affect the prevalence of undernutrition