Nutritional Status of Mentally Disabled Children in Egypt

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      Since we have a speaker coming from Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities to our clinical class tomorrow, I thought I would make a post relating to this topic. As part of our assignment, before the speaker we learned BMI and standard CDC growth charts should not be used in children with disabilities. Children in this population can be at the third percentile according to CDC standards for BMI yet still be progressing at a normal growth rate. Yet, this study uses standard weight, height, and BMI measures to assess the nutritional status of mentally disabled children in Egypt. Not surprisingly wasting was documented in 14% of children 6-13 years of age and stunting was reported in 33.5% of the sample population. A redeeming quality of this study, however was tricep skin fold thickness, serum levels of Vitamin A, and plasma levels of copper, zinc, and magnesium were also used to assess nutritional status. It was found magnesium and iron deficiencies were found in almost half this population potentially due to GI complications associated with disabilities. While this article is interesting to read and contrasts from our clinical homework focusing on disabilities in the United States, a developed country, it reiterates the importance of evaluating the quality/validity of methods used in research articles.

E. Kintner

AbdAllah A, El-Sherbeny S, Khairy S. Nutritional Status of Mentally Disabled Children in Egypt. Egyptian Journal Of Hospital Medicine. December 2007;29:604-615.

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