Factors associated with Malnutrition among Hill Tribe Children, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

Malnutrition among preschool children remains a significant public health concern, particularly underweight. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with malnutrition among hill tribe children in Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province, who reside with limited living conditions. This study was a case control. The case group comprised 64 caregivers of children who were underweight or mildly underweight and the control group was 153 caregivers of children with normal weight. Data was collected through questionnaires covering maternal information, basic family data, knowledge and beliefs regarding food and nutrition, and children's nutritional information. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The study fined within the study group, 48.4% of mothers were aged 21-30 years. The Lahu ethnic group was the largest proportion at 67.2%. Regarding the children, 90.6% had a birth weight of 2.5 kg or more. Notably, 60.9% of children in the study group were not report history of diarrheal disease. Caregivers in the study group were a very good level of knowledge and high beliefs concerning nutrition. Factors significantly associated with malnutrition included Lahu ethnicity (OR (95% CI) = 2.1(1.1-4.0), p-value = 0.02), household size (OR (95% CI) = 2.9 (1.1-7.9), p-value = 0.04), male and children aged 36 months or older (OR (95% CI) = 0.4 (0.1-1.0), p-value = 0.04), and a history of diarrheal disease (OR (95% CI) = 2.6 (1.4-5.0), p-value = 0.003). The findings can be used by Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals to plan nutritional health promotion programs and modify caregiver feeding behaviors.