SURVEY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND CAUSES OF HOSPITALIZATION OF CHILDREN

Background and Aim: Healthy nutrition in children has important role and can significantly influence the health status of individuals in the forthcoming years. So, one of the most important health objective is to have appropriate nutrition in the early years of a child’s life. The current study aimed at determining the relationship between nutritional status and causes of hospitalization in children admitted to a hospital in Guilan, Iran.Methods: In a cross sectional study, 350 children hospitalized in the Infectious ward of 17-Shahrivar hospital in Rasht, were recruited through the census sampling. A demographic information questionnaire and tools such as a tape measure and a weighing scale were used. The final data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistical tests (chi-square test, and correlation coefficient) with SPSS version 16. The level of significance was P<0.05.Results: The results revealed that out of the 350 children examined, 180 (34.1%) were moderately underweight, 126 (25.2%) had moderate thinness, and 147 (29.4%) had a moderate short stature. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was observed between the causes of hospitalization and being underweight, short stature, and thin with food insecurity (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The findings of the current study showed that most children had malnutrition. So it is imperative to take suitable interventions to improve nutritional status in children to reduce pediatric hospitalization.

Keywords:

Nutritional Status , Children , Hospital