Relationship between stunting and food provided to children aged from 6 to 24 months in Soc Son District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

        A case-control study was conducted to determine the risk factors of stunted children in Soc Son district, Hanoi, Vietnam. The data were collected from January 12 to February 3, 2009. One hundred and eighteen stunted children aged 6-24 months were selected as a study group and 118 normal children were selected as a control group. Secondary data included nutritional status and child’s birth weight. Mothers were interviewed and measured for their height after giving consent to participate.

        From Chi-square test, the following factors increased the likelihood of stunted children (P-value < 0.05): mothers less than 150 cms tall, low birth weight, mothers’ lacking knowledge about iron supplement, inappropriate duration of monitoring an underweight child, inappropriate eating of protein foods, inappropriate eating of all kinds of foods and having acute respiratory infection (ARI). From the Multiple Logistic Regression, the factors found most significantly associated with stunted children were low birth weight (OR=7.720, 95% CI = 1.672-35.687), inappropriate feeding practices (OR=1.929, 95% CI=1.124-3.308) and having ARI (OR=4.315, 95% CI=1.361-13.677).

        Appropriate nutritional education, diet and iron supplementation should be given to pregnant women and female adolescents. Appropriate feeding practices should be focused especially on high risk groups. Education programs for ARI prevention among young children should include appropriate food, good environment and hygienic practices.