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Nutritional status of under-five children in libya; a national population-based survey
El Taguri Adel1, Rolland-Cachera Marie-Françoise, M Mahmud Salaheddin
1Hôspital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Insights
Libya
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health Surveillance
- Child Growth Monitoring
Background:
- Assessing childhood nutritional status is crucial for public health.
- Understanding the prevalence of malnutrition and overweight in children under five is essential for targeted interventions.
- Libya's nutritional landscape for young children requires updated assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the nutritional status of Libyan children under five years of age.
- To analyze the prevalence of underweight, wasting, stunting, and overweight in this population.
- To identify demographic and geographic factors associated with different nutritional outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of a 1995 national representative survey.
- Involved 5348 children using a two-stage cluster sample.
- Nutritional status assessed using WHO growth charts and standard definitions.
Main Results:
- Prevalence: 4.3% underweight, 3.7% wasting, 20.7% stunted, 16.2% overweight.
- Undernutrition more prevalent in males, rural, and underprivileged groups.
- Overweight more common in urban, privileged groups; regional variations noted.
Conclusions:
- Libya exhibits low underweight/wasting, moderate stunting, and high overweight prevalence.
- Evidence of a dual burden of malnutrition in some regions suggests early nutritional transition.
- Further surveys are recommended to track trends, especially for overweight.
Aim:
To describe the nutritional status of children under-five years of age in Libya.
Population And Methods:
A secondary analysis of data of 5348 children taken from a national representative, two-stage, cluster-sample survey that was performed in 1995.
Results:
Prevalence rates of underweight, wasting, stunting, and overweight were determined using standard definitions in reference to newly established WHO growth charts. The study revealed that 4.3% of children were underweight, 3.7% wasted, 20.7% stunted, and 16.2% overweight. Seventy percent of children had normal weight. Undernutrition was more likely to be found in males, in rural areas, and in underprivileged groups. Overweight was more likely found in urban, privileged groups. Wasting was more common in arid regions; stunting was more common in mountainous regions of Al-Akhdar, Al-Gharbi, and in Sirt. Al-Akhdar had the highest prevalence of overweight.
Conclusion:
The country had a low prevalence of underweight and wasting, moderate prevalence of stunting, and high prevalence of overweight. The country is in the early stages of transition with evidence of dual-burden in some regions. Similar surveys are needed to verify secular trends of these nutritional problems, particularly overweight.
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