Nutritional status in a sample of the Afghan immigrant children within Iran.

Anthropometric studies in Afghan immigrants in Iran have not been yet performed; therefore the aim of the present study is to identify Body Mass Index (BMI) in a sample of Afghan immigrant children in Iran during the year 2005. In this cross-sectional study 606 Afghan children aged between 6-14 years have been randomly selected within Shahriar County of Tehran Province of Iran and their weight and height have been measured. Then, using BMI formula BMI = Weight (kg)/Height (m2) their BMI was calculated and based on CDC (Centers for Disease and Prevention Control) indices, children were categorized as: under weight, normal and obese. Results of this study showed that 97 cases (16%) had low weight whereas, 429 cases (81.2%) had normal weight and 17 cases (2.8%) had over weight. More percentage of girls had lower weight than the boys (15.2 versus 16.9%), Afghan children who were born in Iran had also lower weight (17.3%) than those who were born in Afghanistan (15.2%) and third and upper birth order children had lower weight compared to first and second birth order (17 versus 15.3%). However, none of these differences were statistically significant. The researchers suggest that due to high incidence of malnutrition in Afghan immigrant children in Iran interventional and educational programs are needed in order to improve their level of health and nutritional status.