Assessing childhood malnutrition in Haiti: Meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goal #4

Abstract

Background

The United Nations (UN) Millennium Developmental Goal #4 addresses needed

reductions in childhood mortality. A major cause of death in Haitian children is

malnutrition and starvation.

Objectives

Our primary objective was to identify population characteristics of children

living in rural Haiti that may place them at higher risk of malnutrition than

others. Armed with this knowledge, community health workers can recognize

and attribute resources to those most in need. We will also examine the overall

nutrition status in the population of interest and compare to the UN

Millennium Goal statistics.

Study design

The study cohort consisted of 103 children under the age of 5 years, who were

consecutively seen in a rural medical clinic from 4 communities in the

Thomazeau region of Haiti over a 7-day time period. Families were asked the

following five questions: (1) How many children do you have? (2) What is the

birth order of this child (1st, 2nd, etc.)? (3) What is the distance between your

house and clean water? (4) Do you obtain water for your family? (5) What was the highest grade you finished

in school? The medical team recorded each child’s gender, age, height, weight, household size, when the last

meal was eaten, and last time protein was ingested. Nutritional status was assessed using World Health

Organization growth standards. The data was then analyzed to determine each child’s level of malnutrition as

measured by weight-for-height Z-score (number of standard deviations [SD] below reference value),

percentage of malnutrition for all children surveyed, and whether correlations existed between malnutrition

level and number of siblings, household size, or location. Trends were defined as associations significant at

p<0.10.