Turk Pediatri Arsivi, cilt.43, sa.3, ss.89-93, 2008 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)
Aim: To determine the nutritional status of children in the day nursery by antropometric measures. Material and Method: Children who lived in the day nursery between April-June 2005, were evaluated for nutritional status by measuring height, weight, head circumference, thorax circumference, superior midarm circumference, skinfold thickness, and by calculating body mass index and Z scores of weight and height. Children were followed for their daily nutritional habits. Results were evaluated for age and sex. Student t test was used for comparing of the groups. Results: Three handred sixty children between the age of 18 days and 7,8 years underwent the study, 40% were girls. There was a significant difference between the median of head and body mass index of boys and girls under five years of age, and between the median of head circumference and skinfold thickness over five years of age. No difference was found concerning weight for age and height between two different groups of age. No difference was found concerning height for age either. It was noted that 46% of all children were short or very short. Conclusions: Since children under 5 years is over populated, it is necessary to pay a special attention to nutrition of these children. We conclude that, quantity and quality of care giving by "mothers" and the survey of these children should be ameliorated.