Factors Associated with Wasting among Preschool Children in Child Development Center, Tamot District, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional research aimed to explore factors related to the wasting among preschool
children in child development centers. The sample was 155 pairs of preschool children and caregivers in
child development centers under the responsibility of Tamot hospital, Phatthalung province. The samples
were recruited by simple random sampling. Interview forms were used for data collection; and the data
were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. The results of the study revealed
that the factors statistically significantly associated with wasting among preschoolers were child’s age,
nap duration, sleeping with a bottle in the mouth, watching television, eating a high-fat diet, household
income, and caregivers’ marital status (p<0.05). The factors mentioned above contribute to the probability
of children of this age group being vulnerable to wasting. Consequently, it is crucial to observe these
factors in the programs to monitor and promote nutrition in pre-school-aged children.