Statistical Evaluation of Malnutrition Status of Children in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Child development depends on many factors such as genetics and habitat, in which nutritional status has a direct and important impact on the child's growth. The anthropometric indices help to determine the weight for age and height for age and were inputted to WHO AnthroPlus software, which shows the age of children and help to assess the nutritional values and statistically evaluate the malnutrition status of children. Martin and M.F., Ashley Montagu’s method was used to measure anthropometric indices and this is a cross-sectional study including mean weight, height. Population means and standard errors of the mean are indices to produce national estimates. Standard errors were estimated using SUDDAN by Taylor series linearization. Statistical evaluate anthropometric indices of the children by SPSS software. The percentage of severe underweight and underweight children accounts for a large proportion. The percentage of BMI malnutrition was large in which severe wasted and wasted rates of children under 4-year old. Although the severe wasted and wasted status of children were observed, however, the overweight and obese status of children in this research area was also found. The anthropometric parameters of preschool children in Lao Cai province followed the rules of the body growth of Vietnamese people. However, anthropometric indices of children were lower than general values of children Vietnam. Malnutrition status and severe malnutrition status of children in Lao Cai province are high compared to other provinces in Vietnam.