With the objective of discovering the prevalence and the kinds of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) among children under the age of five, in the State of Rondônia, anthropometric evaluation was made. About 1,274 children were studied and this sample represents the urban-area of Ariquemes and Ji-Paraná and the rural area of Ouro Preto D'Oeste. The prevalence of PEM encountered (Gomez) was 31.9% and of these, 4.8% were of 2nd or 3rd degree. By means of Waterlow's classification, 6.0% were found to have had malnutrition in the past 3.0% recent malnutrition and 0.2% chronic malnutrition.
Nutritional status; Evaluation studies; Protein-calorie malnutrition; Child
