The relationship of ethnicity, socio-economic factors and malnutrition in primary school children in North of Iran: A cross-sectional study

related factors based on three ethnic groups among primary school children in north of Iran in 2010. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out through multistage cluster random sampling on 5698 subjects (2505 Fars-native, 2154 Turkman, and 1039 Sistani) in 112 schools. Well-trained staffs completed the questionnaire and measured students' weight and height. Malnutrition estimated the Z-score less than -2SD for underweight, stunting and wasting were calculated using the cutoffs from WHO references. Results: Generally, malnutrition was observed in 3.20%, 4.93% and 5.13% based on underweight, stunting and wasting respectively. It was more common in girls than in boys and in Sistani than in other ethnic groups. The correlation between malnutrition based on underweight and stunting and ethnicity was statisti-cally significant (P=0.001). Results of logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of malnutrition was in rural area 1.34 times more than urban area, in girls 1.17 times more than boys, in Sistani ethnic group 1.82 times more than Fars-native ethnic group, in low economic families 2.01 times more than high economic families. Conclusion: Underweight, stunting and wasting are the health problems in primary school children in north of Iran with a higher prevalence in girls, in rural areas, and in Sistani ethnic group

Association between mother’s age and breastfeeding status in the northern Iran

Introduction: Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infant and it is more easily digested than infant formula. The main aim of this study is to determine breastfeeding status, exclusive breastfeeding, and their relation with mother’s age among under-five children in the north of Iran. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, which was carried out in 1997 persons (535 = Fars-native, 773 = Turkman and 689 = Sisstani) from 20 villages in the north of Iran. The calculated sample sizes of 1800 respondents at least were needed for a 95% confidence and a maximum marginal error 0.02. Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration (EBFD) and Breastfeeding Duration (BFD) were classified based on WHO definitions. Results: BFD is 20.16 months and statistical difference is significant among three ethnic groups (p=0.001). Post hoc test are significant between Fars-native and Turkman (p=0.001), and between Turkman and Sisstani (p=0.002) and between Fars-native and Sisstani (p=0.024). EBFD is 5.77 months and statistical difference is significant among three ethnic groups (p=0.011). Post hoc test is significant between Turkman and Sisstani (p=0.027). As whole, duration of breastfeeding positively increased with mother’s age (p=0.002) but statistical association was not significant between exclusive breastfeeding duration and mother’s age. Conclusion: In rural area in the north of Iran, the EBFD and BFD were 5.74 and 20.16 months, respectively and they were in Turkman group more than in others. Mother’s age have a rising role for EBFD and BFD whereas in all of ethnic groups it was not the same. © 2015, Nepal Paediatric Society (NEPAS). All rights reserved

Relation between milk consumption and ethnicity, economic status and parent's education level among primary school children in the North of Iran

Objective: The main aim of this study was to evaluate milk consumption status and interest in milk among northern Iranian primary school children in 2010. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study performed in 7430 students (3935 male) from 112 schools in urban and rural areas. The schools and students were chosen by cluster and stratified sampling. Data was collected for all samples through interview. Results: Milk consumption was present in 62.7% of students (female 60.7%, male 64.5%) and in Turkman ethnic groups (66.0%) was significantly more than in other ethnic groups such as Fars-native (61.4%) and Sisstanish ethnic group (58.2%) (P=0.001). The odds ratio estimate for milk consumption was 1.85 [95% CI: 1.59, 2.16] for good economic group compared to poor economic group; 1.17 [95% CI:1.05-1.31] for students whose mothers had 1-12 years schooling compare to students whose mother were illiterate; 1.31 [95% CI:1.09-1.08] for students whose father were college educated compared to students whose fathers were illiterate. The odds ratio estimate for interest in milk was 0.84 [95% CI: 0.73, 0.99] for good economic group compared to poor economic group; 0.88 [95% CI: 0.79-0.99] for students whose mothers had 1-12 years schooling compared to students whose mothers were illiterate.Conclusions: Milk consumption was shown among 63% of students and was significantly more in boys than in girls, in urban than in rural areas and in Turkman ethnic groups (66%) than in other ethnic groups. High interest in milk was shown among 66% of students

Association of economic status with breastfeeding rates in Northern Iran.

To assess the breast-feeding condition based on economic status among primary school children and comparison between Turkman and non-Turkman ethnic groups in northern Iran in 2010. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective research study, carried out on 6882 primary school children (4157 = non-Turkman and 2725 = Turkman) from 112 school of urban and villages in the north of Iran. The schools and students were chosen by multistage sampling (cluster and random sampling). Breastfeeding was categorized based on World Health Organization classification. Breast-feeding during the first 6 postpartum months and two postpartum years was found in 5.8 and 57.1% of children. Breast-feeding during the two postpartum years was significantly 12.5% more in Turkman ethnic group than non-Turkman ethnic group (P = 0.001) but breast-feeding only for the first 6 postpartum months was 1.9% in Turkman ethnic group less than in non-Turkman ethnic group (P = 0.002). There was a negative significant association between economic status and breast-feeding during the two postpartum years in both ethnic groups (P = 0.001) and there was more breast feeding in the first 6 postpartum months in Turkman ethnic group. Breast-feeding rate in Turkman ethnic group is more common than non-Turkman ethnic group. There is an inverse relationship between economic status and breast-feeding duration with a considerable trend in Turkman ethnic group

Television viewing and obesity among Iranian children: The importance of economic status and residential area

Background: Obesity is a health problem among adolescents worldwide and television (TV) viewing could promote it in several ways. Objective: To determine the association between time spent on TV viewing and obesity considering economic status and residential area in primary schoolchildren in the north of Iran. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on primary schoolchildren from 112 schools. Schools and students were chosen by cluster sampling. All children completed a questionnaire containing questions on the socio-economic condition. Overweight and obesity were classified based on the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) values with body mass index (BMI) in excess of the 85th and 95th percentiles, respectively. Daily time spent on TV viewing was classified into 3 groups: less than 1 hour or no watching, 1-2 hours and 3 hours or over. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical data analysis. Results: Study population comprised 7,453 primary schoolchildren (urban 3,662, rural 3,791). Of the subjects 52.7 viewed TV for 3 hours or more. In boys, prevalence of obesity had a positive association with TV viewing time but in girls, it was not a steady trend. In urban areas, time spent on TV viewing was in line with obesity but wasting significantly decreased with more time spent on TV viewing (P=0.001). This association was not seen in rural children. In the poor economic group, prevalence of obesity significantly decreased with more time spent on TV viewing (P=0.041) but this trend was not found in the moderate economic group. In the good economic group, the association between obesity and time spent on the TV viewing was not significant. Conclusion: About half of Iranian northern schoolchildren spent 3 hours or more daily viewing TV. A positive association between time spent on TV viewing and obesity was seen in high income families and in urban areas

The comparison of under-five-children’s nutrition status among ethnic groups in North of Iran, 1998 - 2013; Results of a three stages cross-sectional study

Background: Despite improvements in child health, malnutrition still remains one of the main public health challenges in Iran. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare under nutrition among under-five children with regard to ethnicity in rural area in north Iran. Patients and Methods: In three cross-sectional studies 7575 subjects in three time-periods including 2339 children in 1998, 2749 in 2004, and 2487 in 2013, were evaluated. All under-five-children in 20 out of 118 villages were chosen by random sampling and assessed. Under nutrition was defined as underweight, stunting and wasting lower than -2 SD (Z < -2 SD). Results: Generally, stunting was declined 17.1% and underweight and wasting were increased 0.9% and 1%, respectively during 15 years (1998 - 2013). Underweight increased 0.5% in Fars-natives and 3.2% in Turkmans and it was decreased 0.9% in Sistanis. Statistical difference in Turkman children among the three stages of the study was significant (P = 0.001). Stunting has decreased 28.7% in Fars-natives and 35.1% in Sistanis, it was increased 9.3% in Turkman group. Statistical differences among three stages in inter-ethnic groups were significant (P = 0.001 for all). Compared the group with good economic status, the odds ratio was 1.831 in poor economic group (P = 0.001). The risk of under nutrition in Sistanis was 1.754 times more than in Fars-natives (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Under nutrition remains one of the main health problems in under-five-year children in north Iran being more common in Sistani children. Stunting in Sistani children deeply decreased while in Turkman children slightly increased during the 15-year period study. Poor economic status is a risk factor for under nutrition in this area. © 2015, Growth & Development Research Center

Trend of stunting, overweight and obesity among children under five years in a rural area in Northern Iran, 1998–2013: Results of three cross-sectional studies

Background: Obesity is a common health problem in the world and the purpose of this study was to identify the trend of overweight, obesity and stunting among children under five from 1998 to 2013 that was carried out in three stages in the villages of Golestan province in the northern Iran (south east of the Caspian Sea). Methods: Three cross-sectional studies with sample sizes of 7575, including 2339, 2749 and 2487 cases were carried out in 1998, 2004 and 2013, respectively. Among 118 villages, 20 were chosen by random sampling and all of the under-five-children in these villages were assessed. For all subjects, a questionnaire was completed and anthropometric indices were measured. Z-score was used for body index classification with following categories: Z ≤ 2SD=Normal or under-nutrition; >2SD Z ≤3SD = Overweight and Z>3SD = Obesity. P-value under 0.05 indicated significance. Results: In 1998, 2004 and 2013, the prevalence of overweight was 8.5% (95% Cl; 7.3–9.6), 3.3% (95% Cl; 2.7–4.0) and 5.2% (95% Cl; 4.2–6.1), that of obesity was 4.6%(95% Cl; 3.8–3.5), 1.2% (95% Cl; 0.8–1.6) and 3.5% (95% Cl; 2.8–4.3), and that of stunting was 32.8% (95% Cl; 31.0–34.6), 13.4% (95% Cl; 12.2–14.6) and 15.7% (95% Cl;14.3–17.2), respectively. In boys, the mean of height was significantly different in all age groups while the mean of weight was significant only at ages 13–24, 37–48 and 49–60 months (P< 0.005 for all). In girls, the mean of height significantly different from 36 months age (P < 0.01) whereas weight difference was significant only at age of 37–48 months (P = 0.002). Conclusion: A heterogenic trend was seen in stunting, overweight and obesity. Although short stature was the main cause of obesity in 1998, extra weight was its major cause in 2013. Renewed increase of obesity among children under-five is considerable in the northern Iran. © 2016, Academy of Medical Sciences of the I.R. Iran

Breakfast consumption amongst school children in northern Iran

Introduction: Eating breakfast has an important role for growing and educational support in students. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether skipping breakfast had any effect among primary school children in the north of Iran. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study performed on 7426 students (3786=male and 3640=female) from 112 schools in urban and rural areas. The schools and students were chosen by cluster and stratify sampling. Data were collected by questioner for all samples through interview. Results: Skipping breakfast were significant among 9.3% of students (female= 9.9% and male=6.7%) and in Turkman ethnic group (6.0%) were significantly less (p=0.001) than other ethnic groups such as Fars (9.6%) and Sistani (9.4%). There were statistically significant differences between gender and type of school, separately (p=0.001). The most important reasons for missing breakfast were low appetite (70.1%), non-flavored foods (11.8%), inattention of mothers (5.2%) and others factors (13%). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that one child out of 11 children goes to school without taking breakfast. On the basis of children's statements, lack of appetite, and uninteresting food materials, were among the most important factors for skipping breakfast, respectively. Also, the higher educational level of parents, good economic condition and the father being unemployed were among the most important risk factors for skipping breakfast by school children, in this region

Serum lipid peroxidation and leptin levels in male and female type 2 diabetic patients in Gorgan (south east of Caspian Sea), Iran

Background: The aim of the present study was to determinate the possible relationship between serum leptin and lipid peroxidation in male and female type 2 diabetic patients in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: The subjects consisted of fifty type 2 diabetic patients and fifty age and sex-matched control subjects. The concentration of leptin, malondialdehyde, lipid parameters and insulin were measured in all subjects. The results were evaluated by using Independent sample 't' test and Spearman's correlation coefficient test. Results: Leptin was correlated with BMI (male: r=0.339 and female: r=0.426, p<0.05) and malondialdehyde levels (male: r=0.124 and female: r=0.271, p<0.05) in the type-2 diabetic patients. In the control subjects, only a correlation between leptin and BMI was found (male: r=0.165, female: r= 0.037, p<0.05). Conclusions: In the correlation analysis using leptin as the dependent variable, BMI was found to be the predictor of leptin in males and females. Increased lipid peroxidation and hyperleptinaemia may play a role in the beginning and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in this area

The state of birth weight in the north of Iran

Introduction and object: This study was designed for determining the birth weight and some other factors affecting rural newborn children in the north of Iran (south east of Caspian sea). Material and Method: A sample size of 695 cases was chosen by cluster and random sampling from 20 villages. The birth weight of the newborn and the mother's socioeconomic status were recorded by a questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS windows software. Results: The prevalence of LBW, NBW and HBW was observed to be 11.1%, 84.1% and 4.8%, respectively. The birth weight among children whose mothers had iron supplements was lower than that of children whose mothers did not take iron supplement (3173gr vs 3246gr) and statistical differences between the two groups were not significant. Birth weight have a positive correlation and significant statistical differences with both maternal age (r=0.2 , p=0.01) and maternal BMI(r=0.24 , p=0.01). The birth weight in the 5th birth order was more than that in the 1st birth order and statistical differences were significant (P=0.01). Birth weight had a positive correlation with familial income (P<0.05). Discussion: Our study showed that maternal BMI, birth order and socioeconomic factors were associated with intrauterine weight gain, but iron supplements didn't have a positive outcome