Determinants of malnutrition among children: A systematic review
1Faculty, Department of Economics, Govt. Degree College Batote, J&K, affiliated with University of Jammu, Jammu, India.
Insights
Child malnutrition is a significant global issue. Key factors include maternal education, household income, sanitation, and breastfeeding practices, highlighting areas for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Child undernutrition remains a critical global health challenge, affecting millions worldwide.
- In 2020, approximately 149 million children under five were stunted, 45 million wasted, and 38.9 million overweight.
- Effective interventions require a comprehensive understanding of associated risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on factors associated with child malnutrition.
- To identify key determinants contributing to undernutrition, stunting, wasting, and overweight in children.
- To inform the development of targeted public health strategies and interventions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.
- Searched Google Scholar for studies published between 2012 and 2021 using relevant keywords.
- Utilized Mendeley Desktop for study management and referencing.
Main Results:
- 37 studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial retrieval of 2150 articles.
- Studies were conducted across diverse global regions, with a notable concentration in India (13) and Ethiopia (5).
- Geographic distribution included studies from Asia, Africa, and South America.
Conclusions:
- Maternal education, household income, maternal nutritional status, child's age, sanitation, family size, birth order, and birth weight are strongly linked to child malnutrition.
- Breastfeeding, childcare practices, cooking conditions, and socioeconomic status also play significant roles.
- Addressing these multifaceted factors is crucial for effective child malnutrition prevention and treatment programs.
Objectives:
Child undernutrition is a major public health problem. Globally in 2020, 149 million children <5 y of age were estimated to be stunted (too short for age), 45 million to be wasted (too thin for height), and 38.9 million were overweight. The aim of this review was to examine previous studies to determine the factors associated with malnutrition and contribute to the existing body of evidence needed for the formulation of effective interventions.
Methods:
This systematic review was conducted using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The Google Scholar database was used to search the studies conducted between 2012 and 2021. The included studies were searched by using some combinations of keywords and saved in Mendeley Desktop for review and referencing.
Results:
Of 2150 articles retrieved from the Google Scholar databases, 37 met our inclusion criteria. Of the 37 studies reviewed; 13 were conducted in India, 5 in Ethiopia, 3 in Bangladesh, 2 in Ghana, 2 in Nepal, 2 in developing countries, and 1 each in Bolira, Benin, Netherland, Columbia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Africa, Egypt, Ecuadorian, and Indonesia.
Conclusion:
The most consistent factors associated with child malnutrition were maternal education, household income, maternal nutritional status, age of the child, availability of sanitation facility at home, size of family, birth order in the family, and child's birth weight. Breastfeeding and caring practices, cooking area and the fuel used, sex, and socioeconomic status of the children also contribute toward child malnutrition.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...