Prevalence of Malnutrition among Under-Five Children and Its Related Factors in Southeast Iran

Maryam  Juybar; Nastaran  Bozorgmehr; Abolfazl  Payandeh

doi:10.18502/jnfs.v10i4.20011

Maryam Juybar Department of Nutrition, Student Research Committee, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran;
Nastaran Bozorgmehr Department of Nutrition, Student Research Committee, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Abolfazl Payandeh Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v10i4.20011

Keywords: Anthropometric indices; Prevalence; Malnutrition; Children under 5 years.

Abstract

Background: The absence of related studies, low socio-economic conditions, and a high birth rate in southeastern Iran prompted the authors to conduct this research. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors in children under the age of five in this region. Methods: A total of 1552 children under five years old (802 boys and 750 girls) were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling method from 17 health service centers (12 urban and 5 rural) in Zahedan. Data were collected using an information form by a locally trained health worker in 2023. A P-value of less than 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The prevalence of underweight, overweight, stunting, and wasting was estimated at 34.8%, 5.3%, 50.3%, and 7.3%, respectively. Significant differences in the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were observed between boys and girls (P<0.05). A substantial correlation also existed between stunting and the mother’s employment status. An important relationship was identified between underweight and the mother’s living area. Additionally, there was a significant association between birth weight and height and wasting, stunting, and underweight (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study highlights a significant burden of malnutrition alongside a rising incidence of overweight, with notable sex disparities. Maternal employment and living area are correlated with children’s height and weight, emphasizing the impact of socio-economic factors. Low birth weight worsens the risks of stunting, wasting, and underweight. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions that address maternal and environmental determinants to reduce the dual burdens of malnutrition.