fa شیوع سوء تغذیه در کودکان پیش‌دبستانی شهر بیرجند (سال 1389) General پژوهشي Research Article Children malnutrition is one of the important health problems in developing countries. Assessing anthropometric indicators are the most important tools to evaluate growth and nutritional status in children. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of malnutrition in preschool children. Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional and descriptive analytical study was done on 1132 preschool children in Birjand selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data was collected using a questionnaire and by measuring weight and height of the children on the basis of the standard method. Nutritional status of the children was evaluated according to three indexesweight for age (e. g. underweight), height for age (e. g. stunting), and weight for height (e. g. wasting). Then, the results were compared with WHO standards. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software and chi-square test, taking P<0.05 as the significant level. Results46.5% of the children were boys and malnutrition prevalence regarding underweight, wasting, and stunting was 42.8%, 61% and 19.2% respectively. There was a significant relationship between malnutrition and mother&#39;s age, gender, job, educational level, and residence with the three indices underweight, wasting, and stunting and also between household size and stunting (P<0.05). However, there wasn&#39;t a significant relationship between malnutrition, household size, and birth order. Conclusion Regarding high prevalence of malnutrition in preschool children and its relationship to socio-economic variables, the problem may be reduced through increasing families&#39; income and parents&#39; educational level. Malnutrition,Child Nutrition Disorders,Child,Preschool,Thinness,Dwarfism 122 128 http://mcj.bums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-475&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 Zahra Farajzadeh زهرا فرج‌زاده 10031947532846004201 10031947532846004201 Yes Instructor, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Email: farajzadehz@bums.ac.i عضو هیات علمی دانشکده پرستاری و مامایی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند، ایران. تلفن: 0561443041 پست الکترونیک: farajzadehz@bums ac.ir Alireza Saadatjoo سید علیرضا سعادتجو 10031947532846004202 10031947532846004202 No Instructor, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and Member of Diabetes Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran عضو هیات علمی دانشکده پرستاری و مامایی و عضو مرکز تحقیقات دیابت دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند، ایران Skineh Hosseini سیده سکینه حسینی 10031947532846004203 10031947532846004203 No B. Sc. in Nursing, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran کارشناس پرستاری، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند، ایران Halimeh Hasani حلیمه حسنی 10031947532846004204 10031947532846004204 No B. Sc. in Nursing, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran کارشناس پرستاری، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند، ایران Maryam Taghizadeh مریم تقی‌زاده 10031947532846004205 10031947532846004205 No B. Sc. in Nursing, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran کارشناس پرستاری، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند، ایران Fatemeh Alahyari فاطمه الهیاری 10031947532846004206 10031947532846004206 No B. Sc. in Nursing, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran کارشناس پرستاری، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند، ایران