Prevalence of Anameia and malnutrition among hospitalized patients attending Al-Nasser paediatric hospital, Gaza, Palestine

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and malnutrition and some risk factors among hospitalized children attending Al-Nasser paediatric hospital. A cross-sectional study among hospitalized children attending Al-Nasser paediatrics hospital. The study included 522 children during the period May 2002 to May 2003. Data collection was through blood specimens, anthropometric indices and the questionnaire. The present study included 522 children attending AL-Nasser Paediatric Hospital with 334 males (64.0%) and 188 females (36.0%). Those children are distributed into three regions; the city 316 (60.5%), the camp 181 (34.7%) and village 25 (4.8%). The present study showed that 326 (62.5%) were anaemic, while 220/522 (42.1%) were underweight, stunting were 172/522 (32.9%) and wasting 140/522 (26.8%). The present study indicated that underweight and wasting were lower among males (38.6%), (20.0%) compared to females (48.4%), (38.8%) with a significance level (p=0.02, p=0.001). Palestinian children at high risk of anaemia and malnutrition. These two conditions should be considered by health authorities and urgent need for immediate intervention should be taken to minimize the consequences. Keywords: Anemia, Malnutrition, Prevalence, Gaza, Children