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Original ArticleOpen Access
The Nutritional Status of Outpatients at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health
S 
Objective : To study the nutritional status and prevalence of malnutrition in outpatients at
Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH).
Material and Method : A cross-sectional study was done in outpatients at the Well-baby
Clinic (WBC) and Outpatient Department (OPD), in May 1999. Patient sex, age, weight and length or
height were recorded. Per cent weight for age (%W/A), per cent height for age (%HI A) and per cent
weight for height (%WIH) were determined, using Thai standard growth data (1999).
Result: A total of 3,667 children were included in the study including I ,903 well children from
the WBC and 1,764 sick-children from the OPD. The gender distribution was 49 per cent girls and 51
per cent boys. Their ages ranged from 10 days to 16 years. Nutritional status was classified as normal
in 49.4 per cent, underweight in 19.8 per cent, wasting in 12.4 per cent, stunting in 12.8 per cent, over-
weight in 15.4 per cent and obesity in 10.4 per cent. The prevalence of normal, underweight and wasting
status at the OPD were significantly higher; whereas, the prevalence of stunting, overweight and obesity
status were significantly higher at WBC. There were no gender differences, except for a higher pre-
valence of stunting in males (p
<
0.05).
Conclusion : Malnutrition is still a health problem in Thai children, both undernutrition and
overnutrition. Good nutrition must be promoted to prevent malnutrition and early detection of malnutri-
tion should be a major concern of health care personal with introduction of early intervention.
Key word : Malnutrition, Prevalence, Children
Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH).
Material and Method : A cross-sectional study was done in outpatients at the Well-baby
Clinic (WBC) and Outpatient Department (OPD), in May 1999. Patient sex, age, weight and length or
height were recorded. Per cent weight for age (%W/A), per cent height for age (%HI A) and per cent
weight for height (%WIH) were determined, using Thai standard growth data (1999).
Result: A total of 3,667 children were included in the study including I ,903 well children from
the WBC and 1,764 sick-children from the OPD. The gender distribution was 49 per cent girls and 51
per cent boys. Their ages ranged from 10 days to 16 years. Nutritional status was classified as normal
in 49.4 per cent, underweight in 19.8 per cent, wasting in 12.4 per cent, stunting in 12.8 per cent, over-
weight in 15.4 per cent and obesity in 10.4 per cent. The prevalence of normal, underweight and wasting
status at the OPD were significantly higher; whereas, the prevalence of stunting, overweight and obesity
status were significantly higher at WBC. There were no gender differences, except for a higher pre-
valence of stunting in males (p
<
0.05).
Conclusion : Malnutrition is still a health problem in Thai children, both undernutrition and
overnutrition. Good nutrition must be promoted to prevent malnutrition and early detection of malnutri-
tion should be a major concern of health care personal with introduction of early intervention.
Key word : Malnutrition, Prevalence, Children
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