Risk factors for low Kaup index among children in rural ethnic minority areas of Yunnan, China

BACKGROUND: The general living standard and health level have been greatly improved in China. But the result of a significant change in a child's growth level has not been reported in the Yunnan rural minority area. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for low Kaup index in the Dai peoples' autonomous region to construct a better health service system in rural minority areas. METHODS: A total of 1173 mother-child pairs were selected in 36 villages of the Dai peoples' autonomous region. Sampled mothers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Sampled children were measured for weight and height. RESULTS: In total, 36.1% of the candidate group was under weight, 12.0% was wasting, and 30.8% had stunted growth. A child's gender (odds ratio; OR, 1.42; 95% confidence interval; 95% CI, 1.07-1.88), existence of a weaning food (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.26-0.46), grasp of the cause of the child's malnutrition (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.16-2.89), positiveness to information on better nutrition (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.07-8.18), coincidence of the child-rearing plan between parents (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.12-4.11), and existence of a doctor who can consult about child-rearing (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.22-8.22) indicated significant relationships to the low value of a child's Kaup index. CONCLUSION: The mother's child-rearing behavior and social support were identified as risk factors. An offer of effective and abundant information to mothers, and the existence of professionals with whom mothers can consult immediately, were required to construct a better health system in the target area.