Toename van het aantal opnamen en meer sterfte vanwege ondervoeding bij kinderen in Paramaribo

To determine the extent and severity of malnutrition in children in the last 10 years in 's Lands Hospitaal.

Setting

Paramaribo, Surinam.

Design

Retrospective descriptive study.

method

Data were collected from the medical files of children admitted because of malnutrition, by completing a standard questionnaire.

Results

The number of children hospitalized because of malnutrition increased markedly from fewer than 20 per year in the period 1985-1990 to 142 in 1994. The increase involved both sexes, all age groups and all ethnic groups. The number of children who died from malnutrition increased from a maximum of two per year before 1993 to 18 in 1994.

Conclusion

The increase of admissions because of malnutrition and the increase of the corresponding mortality are the consequences of the deteriorated socioeconomic situation in Surinam.