The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49418

Mohammad Shahbazi, PhD, MPH, CHES, Public Health, Jackson State University, 144 Apple Blossom Dr., Brandon, MS 39047, 601/368-2043, mohammad.shahbazi@jsums.edu, Dena Goldberg, PhD, RD, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Wyoming, PO Box 3354, Laramie, WY, WY 82070, Zahra Sarraf, MD, Department of Obstetric Gynecology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Zand Street, Shiraz, Iran, and William B. Cissell, PhD, MSPH, CHES, Department of Public Health, SAHS, Jackson State University, Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Suite 320, Jackson, MS 38213-7681.

Purpose: Determine the prevalence of malnutrition among children from two rural villages in southern Iran. School children in a recently settled (formally nomadic) Qashqa段 village and a typical Persian village participated in the study. These villages, although only five miles apart, have dissimilar subcultures and speak different languages (Turkish and Persian). Method: Height and weight were collected using a portable stadiometer and digital scale following standard technique. Results were compared to the 1979 WHO/CDC standards using CDC EpiInfo software. Birthdate, height, and weight were available on 39 (19 males and 20 females) Qashqa段 children and 56 (31 males and 25 females) Persian children. Ninety-six percent of children attending school on the day of data collection participated in the study. Age ranged from 8 years to 14years in the Qashqa段 village and from 7.5 to 15.5 in the Persian village. Results: All children had height for age Z scores below the median with 59% of Qashqa段 children and 68 % of Persian children having a Z score < -2 SD. Nearly 8% of Qashqa段 children and 26% of Persian children had a BMI Z score < -2 SD. Recommendations or Policy implications Using anthropological methods, possible contributing factors to the malnutrition and recommendations for measures to address the health problem identified in these children will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: The audience will

(1)gain insight into the health status of a minority school children in comparative approach, (2)learn about nvironmental and cultural factors contributing to schoolchildren痴 health status, and (
• learn how effective collaboration between American and foreign academics can investigate public health concerns using minimal resources.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.