Abstract:
A prevalence survey of nutritional status and factors related to protein energy malnutrition (PEM) among preschool children in rural area of Nakhoratchasima province. Was carried out during November to December 1992 by using multistage cluster random sampling. The study found that the prevalence of the first degree malnutrition was 27.8%, the second degree was 3.9%, Most of the mothers preschool children aged 20-30 years. 71.2% of them were argi culture, 32.5% of preschool children had gave breast feeding during 12-18 months. Most of the preschool aged 12-24 months (37.0%), birth weight of more than 3,000 grams was 54.7% and Immunization rate was 95.4%.It was found in this study that there was the association with statistical significance between the nutritional status of the preschool children and childrens factors as follows : birth weight, sex, previous illness, immunization rate. Concerning the parents factors, it was found that there was association with statistical significance between mother occupation, father occupation, level of mother education, age of mother, family size and the preschools nutritional status as well.