Relationship Between Nutritional Status and mental Development of Children in Elka Na Mataramofa, East Showa
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Date
1996-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Malnutrition is one of the major problem in the world particularly in
developing countries and it is endem ic in Eth iopia. Different studies have
showed that severe malnutri tion during in fancy negatively affects mental
development. Most malnu tri tion begins in the second year of life, and most
of it is chronic and mild to moderate in severity. This is why the current study
is looking at even mildly malnourished children I - 4 years of age.
To assess the mental development of children in relation to their nutr itional
status, I II children 12 - 42 months of age from a single peasant association
were taken in this study. From these chi ldren 49.5 % were under weight,
52.2% were stunted and 9.9% were wasted. The mean Bayley score was 88
and SO 13. Most (71.2%) scored 76 - 101.
The mean Bayley score between those stunted and non-stunted showed a
significant difference. Multiple linear regression also showed HI A significantly
related to mental development. In addition to nutritional status, birth order and
delivery events were shown to have strong relation to mental development.
Therefore we recommend an extensive health education on nutrition,
expansion of delivery services to the rural population and further research on
mental development of children with emphasis on the effect of family
interaction and chIld rearing pracfice on mental development.
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Relationship Between Nutritional Statu