Epidemiology of early childhood weight change and concurrent undernutrition among African children: A sub-continental observational analysis
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Early childhood weight changes in sub-Saharan Africa are linked to undernutrition. Weight deceleration is common and associated with higher risks of being underweight, especially in normal birthweight infants.
Area Of Science
- Pediatrics
- Global Health
- Child Nutrition
Background
- Limited evidence exists on weight change patterns in sub-Saharan African children under five.
- Understanding the link between birthweight, weight trajectory, and undernutrition is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose Of The Study
- To assess how early childhood weight change (acceleration, deceleration, stable) following different birthweights (low, normal, high) influences undernutrition risk in sub-Saharan African children.
Main Methods
- Utilized data from 111,623 children across 33 sub-Saharan countries (2011-2022).
- Weight trajectory analyzed using SD score comparison; logistic regression estimated odds of weight changes and undernutrition (stunting, underweight, wasting).
- Adjusted for child, maternal, household, and contextual factors.
Main Results
- 24.63% experienced accelerated weight change, 40.84% decelerated weight change.
- Low birthweight infants had 17x higher odds of accelerated weight gain; high birthweight infants had 19x higher odds of decelerated weight change.
- Normal birthweight infants with decelerated weight change showed the highest odds of being underweight (aOR: 14.05).
Conclusions
- Early childhood growth disruptions, particularly weight deceleration, are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The interplay between birthweight, weight progression, and undernutrition highlights the need to address poverty and implement comprehensive growth monitoring in healthcare settings.
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