Anthropometric parameters of malnutrition in children 5-15 years old in Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements to assess chronic malnutrition (stunting) and acute malnutrition (wasting) for 570 children at 60 to 180 months age, including 294 girls and 276 boys at Dar EL Salam, Khartoum State, Sudan. The prevalence of malnutrition was calculated using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro Plus; it was shown that severe and moderate chronic malnutrition in both male and female was 4.6 and 15.25%, respectively. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition (stunting) in male was 6.2 and 17.43% for severe and moderate stunting and in females was 3.03 and 12.85% for severe and moderate stunting, respectively. The prevalence of acute malnutrition in both males and females according to the BMI-for-age body mass index (BMI) was 6.99 and 19.19% for severe and moderate acute malnutrition. The prevalence of acute malnutrition (wasting) in males was 6.66 and 19.66% for severe and moderate acute malnutrition and in female was 6.95 and 18.93% for severe and moderate acute malnutrition. Key words: Cross-sectional study, chronic malnutrition, acute malnutrition, World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro Plus.