Socio-economic factors affecting nutritional status among children under five years old in Vuthu district, Thai Binh province, Vietnam in 2004

Abstract

To determine socio-economic factors affecting nutritional status of children in Vuthu district, Thai Binh province of Vietnam in 2004. Three hundred and ten children under five years old were evaluated about nutritional status and their families were interviewed based on questionnaire to collect the information about household size, number of children in each household, parent education, parent work load, head of households, income and sources of income, food expenditure and price for representative food products. Ordinary least square (OLS) method was applied to estimate the semi log-linear regression to identify factors affecting nutritional status of children. Additional cluster analysis was also used to clarify relationship between individual factors with the nutritional status of children. Prevalence of underweight children in the district was 24.8%. It is still in high level according to WHO categorizes. There were 3.5% of children overweight. Income was the important factor affecting nutritional status of the children. The higher income the households the better nourished the children were. At monthly income per capita less than 236,092 VND, keeping ether characteristics in average, the child in the household could be underweight. However, increasing in income also leaded children facing to overweight situation, at monthly income per capita great than 267,428 VND, keeping other characteristics in average, the child in that household could be overweight. Mother education level and father working time had positive impact to nutritional status of children but mother working time and household size had negative impact to nutritional status of children. There was alarming that overweight children were often in the households with high education level of mothers or/and fathers, high monthly income per capital, or few working time of the mothers per day. Increasing income of people and eliminating poor households may reduce underweight prevalence of children. Increasing education level, knowledge and awareness of mothers in child health are may help increase the nutritional status of children better. Social mobilization in education participation should become strong local government policies in order to encourage people attending to school. Content of child health education, information and communication should not only focus on preventing underweight children but also proper feeding to prevent overweight children. Small family model may contribute in reducing underweight prevalence of children.