Abstract
To assess the nutritional status of mothers of severely malnourished children, and to evaluate the factors associated with inadequate caloric intake of children with severe acute malnutrition versus sufficient caloric intake by mothers. The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January to June 2016 at Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan, and comprised mothers of severely malnourished children admitted for treatment. Data was collected using a questionnaire administered through interviews. Elements noted included body mass index, 24-hour recall, dietary restriction during pregnancy, lactation and complimentary feeding patterns of the children. The mothers were also examined for clinical signs of iron deficiency anaemia. Of the 100 women, 20(20%) were malnourished, 42(42%) were of normal weight, and 38(38%) were either overweight, pre-obese or obese. The caloric intake of 26(26%) mothers was less than 1500 kcal per day, while 42(42%) were taking between 2000-2500 kcal per day and 32(32%) were taking >2500 kcal daily. Also, 67(67%) women were suffering from anaemia and 80(80%) women had some myths related with dietary restrictions during pregnancy, lactation and complimentary feeding of children. Overall, 23(23%) women breastfed their babies.
Highlights
There is a recent emergence of 'double burden of malnutrition', which consists of under-nutrition among children and over-nutrition in adults, especially women
The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January to June 2016 at Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan, and comprised mothers of severely malnourished children admitted for treatment
67(67%) women were suffering from anaemia and 80(80%) women had some myths related with dietary restrictions during pregnancy, lactation and complimentary feeding of children (Table)
Summary
There is a recent emergence of 'double burden of malnutrition', which consists of under-nutrition among children and over-nutrition in adults, especially women. This alarming shift from under-nutrition in childhood to over-nutrition in adulthood is the result of speedy economic development, globalisation, urbanisation, lifestyle changes, high-calory diets and reduced physical activity. Over-nutrition and under-nutrition simultaneously occur among different age groups within the same population.[1] This double burden of malnutrition has been noticed at country, household, and even individual levels. The more pronounced and visible pattern is an overweight or obese mother with a malnourished and underweight child. Poverty is linked with under-nutrition among children, it can cause obesity among adults.
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