Korean J Pediatr.  2006 Jan;49(1):24-28. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.1.24.

Health status of children in low socioeconomic conditions

• Choi HK
• Her JA
• Jang SH
• Kim DH
• Yoon KL
• Ahn YM

• KMID: 1875862
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.1.24

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status and nutritional condition of children living in a low-income community through anthropometric, laboratory evaluation.
METHODS
A community-based survey identified children below 15 years living in a low-income community. Their weight, height, visual acuity, hearing level and dental status were measured. Blood sample were obtained on June and July, 2004. Hemoglobin, serum cholesterol, Hepatitis B antigen/antibody, AST and ALT were measured.
RESULTS
A total of 285 students(M:F=141:144) aged 6 to 14 years were included in this study. The heights and weights in some grades were smaller than controls. The prevalence of obesity was 10.6 percent in males and 10.7 percent in females. The prevalence of abnormal visual acuity, hearing impairments and dental carries were 20.5 percent, 0.3 percent and 69.4 percent. The prevalence of anemia was 10.1 percent. Serum total cholesterol was over 200 mg/dL in 7 percent. They complained of abdominal pain(22.1 percent) and headache(17.1 percent). Hyperthyroidism, cataract, neurofibromatosis, severe atopic dermatitis, ventricular septal defect, strabismus and inguinal hernia were newly diagnosed.
CONCLUSION
Mean heights and weights of children in the low-income community were smaller than controls. The prevalence of abnormal visual acuity, hearing impairment and dental carries were higher than in the 2003 national health survey. Additional research is needed to evaluate the health status of the low-income community.

Keyword

Low-income children; Health status; Anthropometric

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Cataract
Child*
Cholesterol
Dermatitis, Atopic
Female
Health Surveys
Hearing
Hearing Loss
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular
Hepatitis B
Hernia, Inguinal
Humans
Hyperthyroidism
Male
Neurofibromatoses
Obesity
Prevalence
Strabismus
Visual Acuity
Weights and Measures
Cholesterol