Prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 year’s old living in Al-kadhymia city, Baghdad 2019

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition, a dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition, affects children globally. In developing countries, one in five children is undernourished, contributing to half of all child deaths. This study examines the distribution of wasting, stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity in under-5-year-old Iraqi children and the association of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with these nutritional health issues. Methods: A three-month cross-sectional study evaluated the nutritional status of 140 malnourished children under five at two Baghdad health care centers, using WHO and UNICEF benchmarks to measure stunting, wasting, underweight, and overnutrition. Demographic data, birth weight, feeding type, immunization, and maternal education were collected. The study was approved by the health care center administrators. Results: The study evaluated the nutritional status of 140 children under five in Baghdad, finding a high prevalence of overnutrition (75.5%) and stunting (23.5%), with male dominance in malnutrition. Stunting was significantly linked to mothers' low education levels, while both low birth weight and incomplete immunizations were associated with severe wasting. No significant correlations were found between breastfeeding in the first year and severity of malnutrition. Conclusion: In the study, most children were under one-year-old, with boys outnumbering girls, while stunting was mainly seen in those with less educated mothers despite overall nutritional gains. Overnutrition is a significant issue correlated with birth weight and maternal education, and both birth weight and immunization status significantly affect the severity of wasting in children.