Nutritional status and factors affecting common illness among school aged children in selected orphanages in the province of Cavite / by Ayr Hershel D. Masenas, Cirmarie Hope B. Millamena and Jenivic C. Puedan.

Thesis (BS Nursing) Cavite State University

Includes bibliographical references.

College of Nursing (CON)

MASENAS, AYR HERSHEL D., MILLAMENA CIRMARIE HOPE B., PUEDAN JENIVIC E. Nutritional Status and Factors Affecting Common Illnesses among School Aged Children in Selected Orphanages in the Province of Cavite. Undergraduate thesis. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite. March 2015. Adviser: Karen Louela R. Rint, RN, MAN.

This study was conducted to provide data about the determination of the nutritional status and factors affecting common illnesses among school aged children in selected orphanage in the province of Cavite. Specifically, the study aimed to: 1. Describe the demographic profile of orphaned children in terms of age, sex and number of years in the orphanage; 2. their status in terms of nutrition, hygiene, behavioral practice, physical practice, functional well being, emotional well being, health practices, common illnesses, health consultation, environmental factors and lifestyle; 3. determine if there is any significant difference on the status of orphaned children when grouped according to institution; 4.identify the difference on their nutritional behavior when grouped according to institution; 5. determine the significant influence of demographic profile their nutritional behavior; 6. determine the significant relation of nutritional status to demographic profile and common illness; 7. determine the significant difference on common illness between normal and malnourished orphaned children; 8. determine if the common illness of orphaned children is significantly related to their availed accommodation in institution; 9. determine if the accommodation for orphaned children significantly affect their nourishment.

Using a descriptive research design, the study was conducted in three orphanages in the province of Cavite, with a total of 62 respondents, within age ranging from 6 to twelve years old. The list of institutions was obtained from the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office PSWD.A questionnaire was formulated to conduct the study on nutritional status and factors affecting common illnesses of orphaned children. Majority of the orphaned children are female, 10 to 11 years old, and have stayed in the orphanage for five to six years. The nutritional factor of the respondents indicates that they moderately eat nutritious food; practice good personal hygiene; with good behavioral practices; seldom get sick; moderately functional well being by regularly doing household chores but never join any school program; emotionally well happy filled with love; usually experienced colds, cough, fever and attack of lice; always seek medical attention in private hospitals; and lack physical exercises and lifestyle activities.

The orphaned children when grouped according to the orphanages where they reside significantly differ in nutritional, behavioral and physical practices, occurrence of common illness, utilization of health care facilities and environmental facilities.
The nutritional behavior of school aged orphan does not change irrespective to their age, sex, BMI, and years of stay in the institution. The demographic profile of school age orphaned children does not influence the occurrence of their common illnesses. In contrary, lice parasites are significantly affecting the respondent's nutritional status. There are more malnourished than normal orphaned children.

The number of beds significantly affects the nutritional status but not the
occurrence of common illnesses among orphaned children. Finally, risk factor that significantly affects the nutritional status of orphaned children their personal hygiene, utilization of health and environmental facilities and behavioral practices.
The risk factors that affect the occurrence of common illnesses include physical
well-being, functional well-being, behavioral practices and emotional well-being.

Submitted copy to the University Library. 02/14/2017 T-6150