NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN BLIND CHILDREN: ISFAHAN ABABASIR BOARDING SCHOOL
Abstract
Introduction: Inadequate dietary intake causes malnutrition associated with poor physical and mental development, specially in children. This study evaluated the nutritional status in blind children in Ababasir Boarding Center (a boarding school in Isfahan city).
Methods: A 72 hours food regimen survey was measured in 50 subjects (boys and girls) by weighting method. The anthropometric data was collected to compare with NCHS normal data.
Results: Energy intake was less than 75 percent RDA in all the subjects and the amounts of animal protein intake was also little. Chronic malnutrition was more prevalent.
Discussion: Althought the energy intake was lower than RDA, but it did not cause under weight among them probably because of reduced physical activity due to their disability and inadequate high quality protein and other nutrients probably could be the major cause in chronic malnutrition.
Methods: A 72 hours food regimen survey was measured in 50 subjects (boys and girls) by weighting method. The anthropometric data was collected to compare with NCHS normal data.
Results: Energy intake was less than 75 percent RDA in all the subjects and the amounts of animal protein intake was also little. Chronic malnutrition was more prevalent.
Discussion: Althought the energy intake was lower than RDA, but it did not cause under weight among them probably because of reduced physical activity due to their disability and inadequate high quality protein and other nutrients probably could be the major cause in chronic malnutrition.
Keywords
Children, Disability, Nutritional Status, Malnutrition, Boarding School, Isfahan