Malnutrition prevalence in children aged 0 to 5 and related factors in Benusen, Diyarbak？r

Objective: This study aims to examine the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 0 to 5 in the Benusen neighborhood of the Diyarbak？r province of Turkey, and identify the factors associated with malnutrition. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 261 children, aged 0 to 5, with a systematic sampling from the population. Anthropometric measurements of the children were taken, and a 20-item questionnaire developed after a review of the literature was administered to their mothers. Results: Using Z scores and looking at values lower than -2SD, prevalence of thinness, low weight and low height were found to be 3.1%, 4.6% and 16.5%, respectively. In analyses conducted on the basis of Z scores for height for age, statistically significant relationships were found between malnutrition and: lower levels of mother’s education, lack of regular care prior to birth, presence of chronical illnesses, and failure to take vitamin D on a regular basis (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study found that mothers’ education, the quality and the frequency of care prior to birth, and the monitoring of children with chronic illnesses are important factors in preventing malnutrition in the study region, which has a lower socioeconomic status as compared to the national average