Status of undernutrition of left-behind children under 6 years old in rural China in 2013

Abstract

To analyze and describe the status and characteristics of undernutrition among left-behind children under 6 years old in rural China in 2013. Data was from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance among 0-5 Years Old Children and Lactating Women in 2013. Stratified multistage cluster sampling method was used, and 4576 participants under 6 years old from 55 sites of 30 provinces, autonomous region and municipalities were involved. Definition of undernutrition were according to the WHO 2006 growth standard in children less than 5 years old and the WHO 2007 growth reference in children of 5 years old. Results were computed by post stratification weight based on national census from the National Bureau of Statistics in 2010. The prevalence of stunting was 10. 6% among left-behind children under 6 years old in rural China in 2013. It was 11. 6% in boys and 9. 4% in girls. The rate of general rural area and poor rural area were 7. 1% and 16. 6%. The prevalence of stunting showed a significant difference in sex(P=0. 022), general rural and poor rural(P=0. 006), three regions(P=0. 003), parental type of outing(P=0. 005), mother's education(P<0. 001), annual per capita household income(P<0. 001). The prevalence of underweight was 3. 2% among left-behind children under 6 years old in rural China in 2013. It was 3. 4% in boys and 2. 9% in girls. The rate of general rural area and poor rural area were 1. 6% and 2. 0%. The prevalence of stunting showed a significant difference in general rural and poor rural(P<0. 001), three regions(P<0. 001), annual per capita household income(P=0. 0144), mother's education(P<0. 001). The prevalence of wasting was 2. 3% among left-behind children under 6 years old in rural China in 2013. It was 2. 3% in boys and 2. 2% in girls. The rate of general rural area and poor rural area were 1. 5%, 3. 5%. The prevalence of stunting of general rural showed a significant difference in parental type of outing(P=0. 033), the prevalence of stunting of poor rural showed a significant difference in mother's education(P<0. 001), annual per capita household income(P=0. 020). The undernutrition rate among left-behind children under the age of 6 in rural China should be paid attention, especially in the higher subgroups of poor rural areas, western regions, low-income families, mothers away from home and mothers with less than junior middle school education.