Nutritional Status of Children Aged 12 to 36 Months in a Rural District of Hungyen Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the nutritional status of children from 12 to 36 months of age in Kimdong, a rural district in Hungyen Province, Northern Vietnam, in 2017. Subjects and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 327 children aged 12-36 months. The data collected included anthropometric measurement, serum hemoglobin (Hb), and vitamin D concentration. Blood analysis was done at the Center Laboratory of Hungyen Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Underweight, stunted, and wasted children were classified based on z-scores cut-off less than -2 SD of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), and weight for height (WHZ), respectively. Overweight and obese children were defined if WHZ was more than + 2SD. Anemic child was applied when Hb concentration was less than 110 g/L while vitamin D deficiency was termed for level less than 20 ng/L. Results. The prevalence of underweight, stunted, wasted, and overweight/obese children was 7.6%, 23.5%, 6.7%, and 1.2%, respectively. The prevalence of anemia and vitamin D deficiency was 33.3% and 47.7%, respectively. Malnutrition, anemia, and vitamin D deficiency were not statistically different by sex. Malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency were not statistically different by age group but anemia by age groups was significantly different. Conclusions. Stunting is still prevalent in children aged 12-36 months in Kimdong. Moreover, anemia and vitamin D deficiency also affected children in this area. Some interventions should be conducted to improve the nutritional status of children in Kimdong district.

The Role of Vitamin D in Stunting Prevention: A Literature Review

“…The same can be seen in the research of Chuc, et al, (2019) [11] on the nutritional status of children aged 12 to 36 months in a rural district of Hungyen Province, Vietnam. It is said that malnutrition can influence their physio-psychological development which leads to a lower level of performance and productivity as the children grow [5]. The most common form of malnutrition is stunting.…”

Prevalence of Stunting and Its Associated Factors among Children of 6–59 Months in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS), Southern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…In comparison with the study conducted in Damot Gale (41.7%), East Gojjam (37.5%), and West Gojjam (38.3) Zones of Ethiopia, the prevalence is higher [25,26]. It is also a much higher prevalence when compared with the findings from Yemen (42.5%), Peru (15.9%), China (17.5%), Vietnam (23.5%), and Bangladesh (41%) [27][28][29][30][31].…”

Ethnic Variations in Nutritional Status among Preschool Children in Northern Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Prevalence of underweight children and stunting in the 1997–1998 survey was 33.1% and 66.9% [26]; this proportion was slightly decreased until 2008 with 31.8% of children being underweight and 44.3% [27] of stunting. The newest data from 2019 showed the impressed reduction to underweight 7.6% and stunting of 23.5% in a rural province [13], but in general, nowadays the prevalence of stunting children of Vietnam still in high group among Southeast Asian countries [28]. Proportion of malnutrition in Tay children was higher than that of Muong children.…”

“…In the Quanba district of Hagiang—one of the poorest areas of the country—populated by ethnic minorities—the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting among under five children was 24.8%, 77.3% and 4.5% in 2016, respectively [12]. Another study in rural Northern district of children aged 12 to 36 months indicated a prevalence of being underweight (7.6%), stunting (23.5%), wasting (6.7%) with anemia and vitamin D deficiency [13]. A longitudinal study in children aged 10–60 months in the Northern provinces and in Hanoi revealed that 15.7% children were stunted, 4.3% children were underweight and 3.3% were both stunted and underweight [14].…”