Nursing Evaluation of Nutritional Status Using the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment in Orphanage Children: Cross-sectional design

Abstract

Background: Nutritional problems among orphaned children remain an important public health concern, particularly in institutional settings where children may experience inadequate dietary intake and poor health monitoring. Nurses play a critical role in the assessment and management of nutritional status among vulnerable children⁽¹⁾.

Aim: To assess the nutritional status of orphanage children using the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) tool in Karbala City.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 40 orphanage children aged 3–6 years in Karbala City. A purposive sample was used. Data were collected using two instruments: a demographic questionnaire and the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment tool. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 through descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The findings showed that 62.5% of children were aged 3–4 years and 55% were female. According to the SGNA evaluation, 57.5% of children had mild malnutrition, 25% had moderate malnutrition, and 5% had severe malnutrition. A significant association was found between age and nutritional status (p < 0.05), whereas no significant association was found between gender and nutritional status.

Conclusion: Mild malnutrition was common among orphanage children. Early nutritional screening and nursing interventions are necessary to improve children’s nutritional health in institutional settings.