Evaluation of prevalence, demographic characteristics, associated risk factors and effects of enteral nutrition products in children with primary malnutrition

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence, demographic characteristics, associated risk factors and effects of enteral nutrition products in malnourished children. Materials and Methods: A total of 229 pediatric outpatients aged 1-18 years with primary malnutrition related growth failure and prescribed with hypercaloric enteral feeding regimen were included. A total of 73 healthy children with normal growth served as the control group. Anthropometric measurements included height (cm), weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m2), height for age Z score and weight for age Z score. Results: When the malnourished patients were compared with the control group; patients were aged younger and associated with higher likelihood of having a birth weight >3001 , shorter duration of breastfeeding, lower number of siblings, family with lower monthly income and illiterate mothers. In the malnourished group, height, weight, body mass index and height for age and weight for age Z scores improved significantly during 3rd month and 6th month as compared with baseline scores, regardless of gender, sibling number, maternal education and monthly income level. Conclusion: Our findings show the efficacy and tolerability of 6-month high-calorie enteral nutritional support given to children with primary malnutrition, regardless of initial symptoms and socio-economic risk factors.

Keywords

• primer malnütrisyon
• yüksek kalorili enteral beslenme
• antropometri
• gastrointestinal tolerans
• risk faktörleri
• primary malnutrition
• high-calorie enteral feeding
• anthropometrics
• gastrointestinal tolerance
• risk factors