Nutritional state of the children from 6 to 24 months seen in paediatric consultation at the general hospital of national reference of N'djamena (Chad)

Abstract

Objectives: Infantile malnutrition is a problem of public health major in the Developpment Countries. In Chad, it constitutes a real problem of public health in particular in the children of less than 24 months. The present study aims at evaluating the nutritional statute of the children from 6 to 24 months seen in paediatric consultation at the general hospital of reference of Djamena to Chad. We proposed to make a descriptive cross-sectional study allowing to make the photography of the situation at a given time. Methods: A descriptive exploratory study proceeded for two months and concerned 400 old children from 6 to 24 months, seen in paediatric consultation at the general hospital of national reference. Results: The nutritional statute of the children in hospital medium with the HGRN of Djamena is not alarming with a prevalence of 41,5% from emaciation, 33,3% of delay of growth and 52% of underweight according to NHCS. The fever was the most frequent sign having pushed the mother to consult, that is to say 40% of the children consulted for the fever, 25% for the acute respiratory infections, 24% for the diarrhoea. Our study found 56,8% of the mothers living in polygamies. 36% of the questioned women had a primary level but 37% were still illiterate. approximately 38% of the mothers of the children of 12 à17 month were illiterate and depended on their husband. 29,5% of the mothers were multipares and 6% were large multipares. 46% pauci avoid and 18,5% first calf cow. The level of knowledge of the mothers remains acceptable on the food diversification of the children because more the share began it between 6 and 24 months, are 65,5% had a liquid feeding, 89% had a semi-fluid feeding and 86% had a solid feeding between 6 and 24 months. The enriched pulp was the food more used by approximately 75% of the mothers. We noted 26,3% children separated before 24 months whose more share are those from 18 to 24 months. The reason for weaning according to mothers' remains the refusal of tété of the child during the disease (82,25% children). Conclusion: These data suggest the reinforcement with the methods of prevention which only will bring a long-term solution to the problem of malnutrition.