Abstract
The objective was to assess the prevalence of anemia and nutritional status of mothers and children under five years among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and to identify nutritional deficiencies among pregnant, lactating, and non-pregnant non-lactating (NPNLM) mothers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Syrian refugee mothers with children under five years in Greater Beirut, Lebanon (n = 433). Data on socio-economic status, maternal health, lifestyle characteristics, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, and hemoglobin concentrations were collected. The prevalence of anemia was 21.7% among mothers and 30.5% among children. NPNLM with overweight/obesity and an at-risk waist circumference (WC) had 14.7-times and 10.9-times higher odds of anemia than mothers with normal WC and weight. Children of anemic mothers had 2.7-times and 4.4-times higher odds of total and mild anemia than those of non-anemic. Higher odds of mild anemia were found among children of lactating mothers than of NPNLM. A high percent energy intake of total fat and sugar was found among all mothers. Nutritional inadequacy was identified in higher proportions of lactating and pregnant mothers than NPNLM. Our findings highlighted the co-existence of overnutrition and anemia among Syrian refugee mothers and undernutrition among children from the same household. Culture-specific interventions are needed to support maternal nutrition, to ensure the health and wellbeing of their offspring.
Highlights
IntroductionNearly two billion adults are estimated to be overweight or obese and more than 140 million children to be stunted [1,2]
The burden of malnutrition remains a worldwide challenge [1]
Mother–child dyads were recruited through the Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC), which are part of the National Primary Health Care (PHC) Network overseen by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in 6 vulnerable localities of Greater Beirut, between July and September 2018
Summary
Nearly two billion adults are estimated to be overweight or obese and more than 140 million children to be stunted [1,2]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over half a billion women of reproductive age and 269 million children under five years suffer from anemia [3]. The coexistence of undernutrition (wasting, underweight, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies), overnutrition (overweight and obesity), and non-communicable diseases within populations, households, and even individuals characterizes the double burden of malnutrition, mostly affecting low- and middle-income countries [4]. Poor economic development and rapid nutrition transition are exposing a growing proportion of the population to unhealthy environmental stressors and health consequences in low- and middle-income countries. Malnutrition in early life has long-lasting effects, such as chronic inflammation, dysbiosis, obesity, non-communicable diseases, stunting, and birth complications [5]
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