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Diarrhea and malnutrition are important health problems in human societies, especially in developing countries, leading to a huge number of deaths annually. Numerous studies have death with the relationship between malnutrition as a predisposing factor and acute diarrhea, but they have yielded conflicted results. In a cross-sectional controlled study, we examined 398 infants 1-24 month-old referred to the diarrhea-training unit (DTU) of hospital. After treating dehydration, height, weight were measured and compared with an age-matched control group. In cases with acute diarrhea, 3.2% had severe, 14.8% had moderate, 48.8% had light malnutrition, 33.2% had no malnutrition according to Gomez scale. In the control group, the percentage of subjects with severe, moderate, light, and with out malnutrition were 0.5%, 2.2%, 32.4%, and 64.8%, respectively. Average weight for age and weight for height scores were significantly lower in cases with acute diarrhea than in control subjects. However, average for age score was not statistically different in the 2 groups. Patients with acute diarrhea suffered a higher prevalence of malnutrition compared with those from the control group. There was not statistically significant relationship between growth indices and socioeconomic class of the family. A lower percentage of infants with acute diarrhea compared with control group enjoyed breast-feeding as the primary feeding routine. The period of breast-feeding was shorter in infants with acute diarrhea. Nevertheless, breast-feeding neither have significant effects on malnutrition nor on weight and height growth indices. Overall, we concluded that malnutrition and decreased weight growth index might be important predisposing factors for acute diarrhea. Early diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition (Especially moderate and light degrees) are very important measures to be taken in order to decrease diarrhea and its complications.

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The present research is a descriptive and analytical study, which is done in order to investigate the reasons of failure in exclusive breast-feeding in Gorgan. 322 women with children between six to 12 months who referred to health center in Gorgan were chosen as convenience sampling. The instruments for collecting information were some questionnaires included open-ended or closed questions, which was related to individual, social and familial characteristics of parents and children. The findings showed that only 44.4% had exclusive breast-feeding. The most current additional liquid in 59.9% was Glucose water. The most important reason for beginning the additional nutrition was colic which most of the time was advised by grandmother (32.6%). Chi-square has shown maternal age, mother’s conception of her ability in breast feeding, feeling that she would not have enough milk to adequately nourish her baby child, acute diseases, the low birth weight and among the reason for failure to have exclusive breast feeding (P<0.05).

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Diarrhea is one of the main reasons of mortality among children in the developed countries and half of all death is due to persisted diarrhea. This research is a cross-sectional and analytical study done on 708 children with acute diarrhea in village around Gorgan, to find out the effective factors on having persisted diarrhea in children under 5 years old. Face to face interview and determining the variable factors and examining health center records on children with acute diarrhea were the basis for filling the corresponding questionnaires. 14 days after the start of acute diarrhea, which was the second part of this research, the above questionnaires were fully completed by calling on the patient’s home. According to our investigation the risk factors related to the persisted diarrhea were as follow: Age, ethnicity, children length of breast feeding, chlorinated water, children consumed food at the time of acute diarrhea. The results from this investigation indicate that with 95% about probability 10.7%-11.3% of patients with acute diarrhea end-up with persisted diarrhea, which means diarrhea, was continued for more than 14 days. Therefore by controlling the above risk factors the mortality rate due to acute diarrhea could be reduced.