OBJECTIVE: 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.
OBJECTIVE: 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.