Nutritional Assessment of Under Five Years of Age Child in Al-Najaf City

Abstract

Since a single measurement cannot determine a person's nutritional status, nutritional assessment consists of multiple components. Anthropometry, body habitus/composition, food intake, and gastrointestinal function are crucial factors. The objective is to identify undernutrition and obesity and to offer an objective evaluation of nutritional status. Malnutrition and obesity are defined by weight for height or weight for age limits, according to the WHO and other authors. Design of the Study: the descriptive (cross-sectional) study design is used throughout the present study to achieve the study's objectives. The study began on 18/10/2022 and continued until 11/5/2023. Study Sample: A probability (disproportional strata sample) study sample of (166) children was included in the current study. Study Setting: The study is conducted in Al-Najaf City, which has PHC centres from both the northern (Al-Jawad, Al-Askari, and Al-Karama) and southern care sectors (Al-Ansar, Al-Adala, and 15 Shaaban). Results: Study results presented that there is a non-significant association (P>0.05) between the overall Assessment of children's nutritional and health status and their demographic data, except (birth weight, first feeding, and child weight) in which there was a significant association (P<0.05) with children' their nutritional and health status. Conclusion: The study concludes that the overall Assessment of children's nutritional and health status has an essential effect on birth weight, first feeding and current child weight.