[Prevalence of malnutrition in the Mbao Health District].

Protein-energy malnutrition is a real health priority in developing countries specially in african ones. So, a cross-sectional study was conducted, from April 14 to July 28 1995, in the health district of Mbao in Senegal, to determine the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in a population of children 0-5 year old utilizing the health center, for a curative care, an immunization, a growth monitoring. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected and analysed using a microcomputer with WHO/CDC Epi Info 6.0. The index weight/age expressed on Zscore was used with comparison to NCHS/CDC/WHO population's international reference. Among 204 children, 89 (43.6%) present a PEM.51 (57.3%) are male. More than 60% of the children with PEM are 6-29 months old. 74 (83.2%) live in the surroundings of Mbao. They all come from different ethnic group. 67.4% utilize the health center for a curative care and 7.9% for growth monitoring. There is no relation statistically significant between protein-energy malnutrition and the parameters we studied. To overcome such problem, it is necessary to strengthen the management of malnourished children in specialized centers, to educate families in the nutritional properties of local products and to improve the socioeconomic status of the population for better access to these products.