Assessment of Nutritional Status of Children Living in Orphanage Institutions at Minia and Samlout Cities

Abstract

Childhood is a crucial period affecting physical and intellectual development. Although children living in orphanages consider the most vulnerable groups at risk of malnutrition, there is scarcity of data concerning their nutritional status in Egypt. Aim of the study: To assess the nutritional status of children living in orphanage institutions at Minia and samalout cities. Research design: Across -sectional descriptive study was utilized in this study. Subjects: comprised 109children in orphanage whose age ranged between 3 to 19 years. Setting: This study was carried out at orphanages at Minia city and Samalout city. Data collection tools: Two tools were utilized to measure the variables of the study included demographic part , clinical, anthropometric, dietary Intake Assessment, physical activity and sedentary behaviors .Results: the major resultes found that 49.5% of the participants were in primary school, Physical signs suggesting nutritional deficiencies were detected in about 25% of the sample, and it showed that56.9% were stunted,14.7%of them overweight and 9.7% of children aged between 3-7 years had small head circumferences. Conclusion: malnutrition is highly prevalent in the orphanage of Minia city in line with the national prevalence and significantly associated with children age, and gender. Recommendation: The coexistence of under-and over nutrition among institutionalized children calls for implementation of comprehensive intervention strategies committed to reducing under nutrition while simultaneously preventing over nutrition through improving diet quality and physical activity of these children.