MATERNAL RISK FACTORS OF COEXISTED SEVERE ACUTE AND CHRONIC MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN OF AGE 6 – 59 MONTHS

Abstract

Background and Objective(s)

Mothers’ sociodemographic characteristics, nutrition status and food diversity are important determinants of acute and chronic malnutrition in children less than five years. Therefore, the study aimed to explore the maternal characteristics as risk factors of coexisted severe acute and chronic malnutrition in children of age 6 – 59 months.

Methods

The cross-sectional analytical study included children (n=70) who attended the hospital for wasting during September 2022 to February 2023 and their mothers (n=70). Using the WHO child growth standards, children were categorized into moderately and severely wasted, stunted and underweight. Crosstabs analyses and binary logistic regression performed to assess maternal characteristics as risk factors of acute and chronic malnutrition in children.

Results

Mean age was 13.3±11.5 (range 6-42 months). The participation of males was higher than females (55.7 vs. 44.3%). The frequency of coexisted severe acute and chronic malnutrition was (71.4%). Young mothers [aOR = 2.299, 95% CI 0.670-7.891], working mothers [aOR = 3.638, 95% CI 0.369-35.895], mothers with no kitchen autonomy [aOR = 1.345, 95% CI 0.421-4.301] and mothers with inadequate food diversity [aOR = 1.301, 95% CI 0.296-5.722] had higher risk of coexisted severe acute and chronic malnutrition in children.

Conclusion(s)

The children who attended the hospital for wasting also had a high burden of stunting. Mothers’ young age, working status, no autonomy and inadequate food diversity demonstrated higher risk of coexisted severe acute and chronic malnutrition in children.