en Epidemiology Original Article <p>&nbsp;<strong> Background </strong>: Malnutrition is still a major health problem in the developing countries. It is recognized that 60% of deaths among children under five year in these countries are associated with malnutrition. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Iranshahr in 2011.</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong> Materials and Methods </strong>: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample consisted of 700 children less than 5 years old who were randomly selected by cluster and quota method among health centers. Child growth was measured based on NCHS-WHO charts. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed by SPSS Ver.18, using chi-square, and logistic Regression tests for comparing groups.</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong> Results </strong>: Prevalence of stunting (height for age) was 11.1%, (disorder of growth = 7.7%, severe malnutrition = 3.4%), underweight (weight for age) was 9.8% (disorder of growth = 7%). Malnutrition has significant association with birth grade, delivery type, hospitalization history, educational level of parents, parents&#39; job, birth weight, vaccination and the regular consumption of supplementary vitamins (p<0/05).</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong> Conclusion: </strong>Although prevalence of malnutrition in this study was lower than WHO statistic report, (30%) but this is locally important and health staff and parents must be educated on nutritional values. Malnutrition is a major problem which is a reason for suppressed immune system, causing the increase of infectious diseases and infant mortality.</p> Malnutrition, Dwarfism, Wasting Disease, Body Dysmorphic Disorder 139 149 http://johe.rums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-72-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 N Mohammadinia mohammadinia55@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004301 2240031947532846004301 No Faculty Member, Dept of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran. Zahedan University of medical science H Sharifi Poor sharifi9879@hotmail.com 2240031947532846004302 2240031947532846004302 No Faculty Member, Dept of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran. Zahedan University of medical science MA Rezaei rezaei47@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004303 2240031947532846004303 Yes Faculty Member, Dept of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran. Zahedan University of medical science N Heydari khayat heydari_nastaran@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004304 2240031947532846004304 No Faculty Member, Dept of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran. Zahedan University of medical science