Aida H Al-Sadeeq1, Aidroos Z Bukair1,2, Abdul-Wahab M Al-Saqladi1,2. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Al-Sadaqa General Teaching Hospital, Aden, Yemen. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, Yemen.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Impaired nutritional status is a major health problem affecting young children in developing countries that has a significant impact on child morbidity and mortality. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition among children aged < 5 years, using conventional indices and the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), and then comparing their estimated results. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted and information was collected through house-tohouse visits using precoded structured records. We analysed data from 1292 children aged 6-59 months, from Ahwar and Al-Mahfed rural districts in Abyan Governate, South Yemen, with reference to the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards. RESULTS: CIAF identified undernutrition in 70.1% of children, while conventional anthropometric indices revealed 38.5% stunting, 39.9% wasting, and 55.1% underweight. Compared with conventional indices, CIAF aggregate recognized 31.6%, 30.2% and 15% more undernourished children than stunting, wasting and underweight separately. According to CIAF, 21% had a single anthropometric failure and 49.2% exhibited multiple failures. Stunting Index, Wasting Index and Underweight Index were 0.55, 0.57 and 0.79, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CIAF gives a better estimate of undernutrition than currently used conventional indices; identifies more children with multiple anthropometric failures; and reflects a wider view of the extent and pattern of undernutrition of children living in communities with limited resource settings.
BACKGROUND: Impaired nutritional status is a major health problem affecting young children in developing countries that has a significant impact on child morbidity and mortality. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition among children aged < 5 years, using conventional indices and the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), and then comparing their estimated results. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted and information was collected through house-tohouse visits using precoded structured records. We analysed data from 1292 children aged 6-59 months, from Ahwar and Al-Mahfed rural districts in Abyan Governate, South Yemen, with reference to the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards. RESULTS: CIAF identified undernutrition in 70.1% of children, while conventional anthropometric indices revealed 38.5% stunting, 39.9% wasting, and 55.1% underweight. Compared with conventional indices, CIAF aggregate recognized 31.6%, 30.2% and 15% more undernourished children than stunting, wasting and underweight separately. According to CIAF, 21% had a single anthropometric failure and 49.2% exhibited multiple failures. Stunting Index, Wasting Index and Underweight Index were 0.55, 0.57 and 0.79, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CIAF gives a better estimate of undernutrition than currently used conventional indices; identifies more children with multiple anthropometric failures; and reflects a wider view of the extent and pattern of undernutrition of children living in communities with limited resource settings.
Authors: Yahya Ali Gaber; Rukaih Al-Sanabani; Dhekra Amin Annuzaili; Abdullah Al-Danakh; Li Chun Ling Journal: Prim Health Care Res Dev Date: 2022-09-12 Impact factor: 1.792