Abstract:

Background: Malnutrition is a significant pediatric health problem in developing countries including Tanzania. The great majority of children with cancer live in developing countries where the prevalence of malnutrition in this age group may exceed 50%. Malnutrition may be present at diagnosis of cancer due to the effects of the malignancy or, in low-income countries, due to poverty and an inadequate diet. The impact of malnutrition at presentation on clinical outcome among children with cancer at Bugando medical centre is inconclusive and data on the nutritional aspect of pediatric oncology patients at presentation is lacking.

Objective: To assess the nutritional status and prevalence of malnutrition among children with cancer at BMC, Tanzania.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving data collect from the patients who were treated at Bugando Medical Centre Oncology unit. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio demographic and clinical data from the electronic data base of children aged less than 15 years who were treated at BMC from 2009 to 2015.

Results: 199 (81%) children were included in this study. Male were 104 (52%) and female were 95 (48%). Mean age is 8 years. Most of the children are below 5 years old (45%). 86% of children are from lake zone. For children >5 years using BMI most of the children were moderately malnourished 36% for children under 5 years using weight for height 46% were moderately malnourished and by height for age 42% of children were stunted. Distribution of cancer types was as in Tables 5 below. Most of children present with solid tumor 78.5%.

Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition among the pediatric patient with cancer at BMC is very high. Malnutrition in children with cancer should not be accepted at any stage of the disease. Nutritional strategies should be considered and integrated as a fundamental feature of pediatric oncology so as prevent chronic illness and adverse late effects caused by malnutrition in this population.