Abstract

MACHADO 1, Maren Karina et al. Valoración antropométrica de los niños internados en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2006, vol.77, n.2, pp.110-117. ISSN 1688-1249.

Summary Introduction: malnutrition in hospitalized children is an important problem. In our country there are no studies about its prevalence. Objective. to learn the prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized children at the CHPR and its relation with different variables. Material and methods. a cross-sectional survey with a single assessment was carried out in all hospitalized patients. Weight and length was measured. Weight for age (W/A), height for age (H/A), weight for height (W/H) and body mass index (W/H²) were calculated. Malnutrition was considered when one or more anthropometric values were under score Z -2. The nutritional state was correlated with age, hospitalization time, socioeconomic conditions and with previous chronic disease. Results: 95 % of the children hospitalized at the CHPR are under the line of poverty. Thirty four children (25.2 %) had one or more anthropometric values below score Z -2 . Among children under 2 years of age, 18.2 % had a W/A value affected and 21.2 % presented growth retardation. In the group older than 2 years of age 13 % had an affected W/A value, 8.7 % had growth retardation and 5.8 % had an altered W/H. In the group of malnourished children the majority had chronic previous disease and the hospital stay was longer. Discussion: malnutrition incidence is high among hospitalized children at the CHPR. They usually belong to the lower socioeconomic stratus. The most affected were children under 2 years of age, with previous chronic disease and who usually required a longer hospital stay. It is necessary to design strategies to prevent the nutritional repercussion during hospitalization and begin the recovery of the already malnourished children

Keywords : ANTHROPOMETRY;   NUTRITIONAL STATUS;  CHILD, HOSPITALIZED.

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