Abstract
To assess the risk factors for acute malnutrition (weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) < −2), a case-control study was conducted during June–September 2012 in 449 children aged 6–59 months (178 with WHZ < −2 and 271 comparing children with WHZ ≥ −2 and no edema) admitted to the Dhaka Hospital of icddr,b in Bangladesh. The overall mean ± SD age was 12.0 ± 7.6 months, 38.5% (no difference between case and controls). The mean ± SD WHZ of cases and controls was −3.24 ± 1.01 versus −0.74 ± 0.95 (P < 0.001), respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that children with acute malnutrition were more likely than controls to be older (age > 1 year) (adjusted OR (AOR): 3.1, P = 0.004); have an undernourished mother (body mass index < 18.5), (AOR: 2.8, P = 0.017); have a father with no or a low-paying job (AOR: 5.8, P < 0.001); come from a family having a monthly income of <10,000 taka, (1 US$ = 80 taka) (AOR: 2.9, P = 0.008); and often have stopped predominant breastfeeding before 4 months of age (AOR: 2.7, P = 0.013). Improved understanding of these characteristics enables the design and targeting of preventive-intervention programs of childhood acute malnutrition.
Highlights
One of every five children aged less than 5 years in lowincome, developing countries is malnourished
Logistic regression analysis revealed that children with acute malnutrition were more likely than control to be older (adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (AOR): 3.1, P = 0.004), have an undernourished mother (body mass index (BMI) < 18.5), (AOR: 2.8, P = 0.017), have a father with no or a low-paying job (AOR: 5.8, P < 0.001), come from a family having a monthly income of less than 10,000 taka, (1 US$ = 80 taka) (AOR: 2.9, P = 0.008), and have shorter period of predominant breastfeeding (AOR: 2.7, P = 0.013) (Table 3)
The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with acute malnutrition (WHZ < −2, which includes both moderate and severe wasting) in our population of 6– 59-month-old children
Summary
One of every five children aged less than 5 years in lowincome, developing countries is malnourished. Acute malnutrition defined by weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) < −2 (i.e., wasting) in young children continues to be a major health problem in low-income countries, Bangladesh. Despite recent advances in prevention and management of childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh, 16% of children under 5 years of age are acutely malnourished (WHZ < −2) [2]. Childhood malnutrition places a heavy burden on many families in Bangladesh and other developing countries. It directly increases mortality and imposes significant national health and development costs due to associated morbidities, including impaired cognitive ability and indirect deaths
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