Prevalence and risk factors for malnutrition among children aged 5 years and less in the Lefaragatlha village of Bophuthatswana

• Published in: Curationis (Pretoria) Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 33 - 35
• Main Author: Setswe, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa 01.08.1994
• Subjects: Age Factors; Child Nutrition Disorders - diagnosis; Child Nutrition Disorders - epidemiology; Child Nutrition Disorders - etiology; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Nursing; Nutrition Surveys; Population; Prevalence; Risk Factors; South Africa - epidemiology; South Africa; Measurement; Child Nutrition; Prevalence; Age Factors; Nutrition Surveys; Biology; Malnutrition > determinants; Research Methodology; English Speaking Africa; Alcohol Drinking > women; Natural Resources; Socioeconomic Factors; Population Characteristics; Population; Behavior; Child; Demographic Factors; Nutrition; Health; Nutrition Disorders; Risk Factors; Africa; Statistical Studies; Youth; Correlation Studies; Diseases; Studies; Economic Factors; Southern Africa; Sex Factors; Environment; South Africa; Developing Countries; Water Supply; Africa South Of The Sahara
• ISSN: 0379-8577

A cross-sectioned study was conducted at the Lefaragatha village of Bophuthatswana to document the prevalence and risk factors for malnutrition in children aged 0-5 years in June 1991. Fifty four households, in which there were children in the right age groups, were interviewed over three weeks. Of these children 14 (25.9%) were below the 3rd percentile of weight for age of the 1976 National Centre for Health Statistics standards; in the age group of 2 years and less, this figure was 28.6%, while in children older than 2 years the corresponding figure was 71.4%. Malnutrition was associated with a mother's consumption of alcohol and lack of resources such as water and an inappropriate staple diet. Education and income were not significant variables.