Assess of the malnutrition cases in children under five years in Khartoum State, Sudan

The WHO estimates that malnutrition accounts for 54% of child mortality worldwide (about 1 million children) which consider as a noising figure. The aim of this study was to assess the malnutrition cases in children under five years in Jabra locality, Khartoum State, Sudan. A clinic base study funded by Saudi Red Crescent Authority was conducted on 100 children under five years who visit the health facility in the study area. Malnutrition was indicated by stunting, wasting and underweight. A structured questionnaire was also used to obtain the required data of the study participants. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS). The results of this study indicates that, the majority of the children (81%) were well nourished, (9%) were moderate wasted, (3%) were severe wasted and (7%) were overweight. (14%) of the children were severely stunted and (15%) were moderately stunted, (6%) of the children were severely underweight. (17%) of the children showed different signs of illness, (8%) suffered from anemia, (5%) suffered from measles, and (42%) suffered from diarrhea. (83.5%) of the mothers began breastfeeding in the first hour of life, (52.2%) introduced prelacteal food and infant formula, (66%) introduced other food with breastfeeding for more than 6 months, (88.9%) treat their children through health facilities, (54.5%) of the mothers reported that the children had received vitamin A supplementation, more than (50%) of the children eat meat and eggs products every day, (66.7%) of children consumed milk and milk products, (61.5%) consumed legumes, nuts and seeds, (76.9%) consumed cereals daily. These assessments pointed out the needs for governmental aids to help part of those children.