Prevalence of Undernutrition in Assiut University Children's Hospital

Introduction: Malnutrition is a pathological state characterized by an imbalance between the intake of energy, protein, and other essential nutrients and the body's requirements, leading to adverse effects on growth and overall health. Malnourished children were divided into three categories: micronutrient malnutrition, chronic malnutrition, and acute malnutrition (wasting). Poor diet, starvation, eating disorders, problems with digestion or absorption, or chronic diseases are the causes of malnutrition. Malnourished children have many complications, such as infections after surgery, which result in a longer hospital stay and a delay in both physical and mental development.Objectives: To investigate the incidence of malnutrition in infants and children admitted to Assiut University Children's Hospital. Additionally, the study seeks to ascertain whether there is a correlation between nutritional status and the duration of hospitalization.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of children admitted to the Assiut University Children's Hospital from the beginning of January 2020 to the end of December 2020. Personal data were collected; patients were evaluated on admission and discharge by anthropometric measurements and a few laboratory tests, including serum albumin level and complete blood count. All infants and children were categorized into three categories of malnutrition: Underweight, Wasting, and Stunting, based on whether malnutrition occurred before or at the time of admission.Results: The investigation included 300 participants, 196 males and 104 females. Underweight was substantially associated with older age (> 2 years), rural residence, The number of offspring produced by a single mother surpassing four, low birth weight, illiterate parents, low socioeconomic status (SES), and diarrheal morbidity. Being older than 4 to 6 years old, living in a rural area, and having illiterate parents were all significantly associated with stunting. Parents who were illiterate and those with a history of low birth weight were substantially associated with wasting.