Nutritional Survey of Physically Handicapped Children - An Ecological approach -

지체(肢體) 부자유(不自由) 아동(兒童)의 영양실태(營養實態) 조사(調査) - 생태학적(生態學的) 접근(接近) -

This study was carried out to investigate the nutritional status of physically handicapped children with cerebral palsy in order to contribute to their welfare by studying their healthy status, nutrient intake, daily energy expenditure, and living environment. The survey was conducted at two rehabilitation institutions from May 25 to June 30, 1981. A special questionnaire was designed to investigate the living environment. The 24 hr. recall method was used in evaluation the nutrient intake of 67 children. Anthropometric measurement was made of height, weight, chestgirth, upper-arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness. The biochemical status of the children with cerebral palsy was assessed with measurement of hemoglobin and hematocrit. The results may be summarized as follows : 1. The children with cerebral palsy, the intakes of all nutrients except vitamin A, thiamin, and ascorbic acid were lower than Korean recommend dietary allowances (1980). They had significantly higher intakes of vitamin A and calcium than the normal children, but the calcium intake was low as 62% of the Korea RDA. 2. All the children with cerebral palsy were very short and low weight in comparison with the accepted standards, but chestgirth was above the accepted standards for Korean school children. 3. The average hemoglobin value was 12.2gm%, hematocrit 39.3%, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 31.1%. 4. The possible etiological factors of cerebral palsy were, prenatal factors 16%, natal 44.9%, postnatal 27.5%, and unknown 11.6%. Eighty four percent of the children showed their first symptoms within the first year after birth. 5. Thirty percent of the parents said that the handicapped children lead to marital problems, and 84.1% of the parents mentioned that medical expenses for the children influenced their family finances.