Objective To analyze the prevalence of malnutrition among school-age children and adolescents in Hangzhou City.
Methods A stratified cluster sampling design was conducted among 38 primary and middle schools to collect physical examination information of 52 820 students aged from 6 to 18 years in 13 districts (counties) in Hangzhou City. The data for 2013 academic year were retrieved from the Management Information Platform of Health Monitoring and Early Warning for Hangzhou Students and analyzed. Stunting and wasting were screened out using the Screening Standard for Malnutrition of School-Age Children and Adolescents (WS/T 456-2014).
Results The prevalence rate of malnutrition among the school-age children and adolescents aged 6-18 years in Hangzhou City was 7.5% in the 2013 academic year, with the major type of wasting. The prevalence rate of malnutrition showed an increasing tendency with age that high school students reported the highest (9.20%), followed by junior high school students (6.69%) and primary school students (5.91%) by chi-square test for trend (χ2=150.30,P<0.01). The prevalence rate of malnutrition among boys (8.58%) was higher than that among girls (6.36%), rural students (8.85%) higher than urban students (6.46%). There were statistically significant differences in the prevalence rate of malnutrition between boys and girls and between rural and urban students using Mantel-Haenszel statistics.
Conclusion Malnutrition is identified in the schoolage children and adolescents in Hangzhou City. Higher grade students, boys, and rural students should be paid greater attention for malnutrition.
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