Impact of maternal education, employment and family size on nutritional status of children

Determinants of nutritional status of school children

Background: Parenting in the family plays an important role in the growth and development of toddlers, including their nutritional status. The age of the mother at the time of marriage also affects the parenting pattern provided, including the possibility of malnutrition. This study aims to determine the relationship between maternal parenting and the nutritional status of children under five in families who marry early in Palu City. Methods: The approach in this study is quantitative. Type is an observational study, using a cross-sectional design with the free variable being the mother's parenting style, and the bound variable is the nutritional status of toddlers. This study was conducted over 2 months, from March to April 2019 with a sample consisting of 75 mothers who married early (<18 years) and had toddlers in Palu City. Data were collected through questionnaires as well as weight and height measurements with chi-square analysis and logistic regression with p<0.05. Results: The results showed that 57.3% of mothers who married early implemented good parenting, and among them, 81.4% had children with normal nutritional status. There was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between the parenting style of mothers who married early and the nutritional status of children under five in Palu City (PR=2.5; CI95% 1.21-5.20). In the multivariate analysis, there was a significant relationship between maternal education, family income, and husband support (p<0.05), while maternal work and family size with nutritional status of toddlers were not significantly linked. Mothers who marry early with good parenting are more likely to have normal nutritious toddlers than those who are not good. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a relationship between maternal parenting and the quality of nutritional status of children under five in families who marry early.

Introduction: The nutritional status of the children is satisfactory in Asian countries like Pakistan however the prevalence of malnutrition is observed to decrease because of the various health programs at national and international level in order to improve the health status of growing children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence nutritional status and correlation between nutritional status of students and their academic performance of school going children in Timergara. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted by administering and filling the questionnaire from 400 children, 200 from private and 200 from public sector schools of ages 6 to 11 years in different public and private sector schools of tehsil Timergara Lower Dir, KPK. Nutritional status of children was calculated by anthropometric method and compared with WHO growth chart. Academic performance was calculated from the percentage of the marks obtained in the last annual exam. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS 24.0. Results: The prevalence of male gender were 61% and female gender were 39%. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, thin and Overweight+Obese were25.0 %, 17.0%, 7.5 % and 5.0% correspondingly. The low level of educational performance was significantly higher among the stunted (60.0%), underweight (38.2%), thin (33.3%) and Overweight+Obese (10.0%)children than that of the normal children.The low level of educational performance was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among the stunted, underweight and wasted children than that of the normal children. Conclusion: The nutritional status of school going children of Lower Dir, KPK was satisfactory however emphasis on the awareness regarding nutrition must be given. Keywords: Private, Public, School going children, Nutritional status

Background: The problems of malnutrition among under five children can be used to conclude the necessity for nutritional care, surveillance, or appropriate intervention of nutritional programmes in a community. The objective of the present study was to assess the nutritional status in under 5 children and to compare the nutritional status with WHO and IAP Growth curves and to evaluate the relationship of same with variables like literacy, income of parents, order of birth, sex of the child, birth weight and breast feeding.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study was carried out in 1052 children aged under 0-5 years hailing from middle and low socio-economic class of an urban population attended to out-patient department and ward in Government Royapettah Hospital and Anaganwadi centres in and around Royapettah during the period of November 2006 to October 2007. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height/length, middle arm circumference (MAC) were taken for all the children and all the measurements were plotted in the IAP growth chart, WHO growth chart (Z score - 2006), BMI - WHO standards and compared.Results: Out of 1052 children, majority of the subjects were male children 535 (50.9%). As per IAP guidelines, majority of the children 513 (48.8%) were under normal weight, 5 (0.5%) of them were with very severe malnutrition. According to WHO standards most of the children 623 (59.2%) were under weight and 135 (12.8%) were under severe malnutrition. Positive correlation was observed between the nutritional status of the children with educational and employment status of parents, increasing birth weight and family income. Increasing birth order has a negative influence on nutritional status of the child. Optimally breast fed babies (Exclusively breast fed for 6 months with appropriate complementary feeds thereafter) have better nutritional status.Conclusion: The study concludes that utmost care and attention must be focused on child’s nutrition by giving priority to education for poor community especially for women, creating awareness regarding benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding and limiting family size.

BackgroundIn Israel, the absence of national growth charts leads to the use of CDC or WHO growth charts to assess pediatric growth indices. This population-based cross-sectional study compared BMI z-scores and weight classifications using CDC and WHO charts in children insured by Clalit Health Services (CHS).MethodsThe study analyzed the CHS electronic database for patients aged 2–18 years with at least one recorded BMI measurement from January 2017 to December 2023. Exclusion criteria included improbable BMI measurements (> 60 kg/m2 or < 10 kg/m2). Demographic data, height, and weight were collected, and BMI z-scores were calculated using both CDC and WHO growth charts. Results were stratified by sex and age groups (2–5 years and > 5–18 years).ResultsThe cohort included 1,475,543 children: 488,008 aged 2–5 years (52% male) and 987,535 aged > 5–18 years (51% male). In the younger group, the median CDC BMI z-scores were below 0 (< 50th percentile), while the median WHO BMI z-scores were above 0 for both sexes, with significant differences between methods (P < 0.001). BMI z-scores were lower in males than in females across both methods (P < 0.001). In the older group, for both methods, the median BMI z-scores were above 0. WHO z-scores had higher medians in males compared to CDC z-scores (P < 0.001), while in females, z-scores were similar between methods (P = 0.210). CDC showed lower median z-scores for males compared to females (P < 0.001), whereas WHO results were comparable between sexes (P = 0.337). There were significant discrepancies in weight classification, particularly in the 2–5 age group. Overweight rates were over 4% higher using CDC charts compared to WHO (P < 0.001), with minimal agreement (Kappa = 0.06 for males, 0.01 for females). In the older group, WHO classified 4% more children as overweight than CDC (P < 0.001), with moderate agreement in males (Kappa = 0.74) and strong agreement in females (Kappa = 0.81).ConclusionsThe study underscores the risk of misclassifying childhood overweight and obesity depending on the growth standard used, particularly in younger children. Policymakers should carefully choose appropriate standards and consider developing national growth charts tailored to the local pediatric population, while allocate resources for early interventions addressing both undernutrition and overnutrition.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13584-025-00699-z.

This cross-sectional study was performed in two regions of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The aim was to study the growth and nutritional status of children under 5 years of age and the effect of socioeconomic factors on child development. Anthropometric indices (weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height) differed in the two regions. The prevalence of stunting was significantly higher among children from mainly rural Al Jabel Al Garby (6.1%) than those from urban Tripoli (2.5%). The z-scores that correlated strongly with under-nutrition included: mother's education, child's age and sex, and region. Stunting was significantly related to age and region and to maternal education level and family size. Wasting was highly correlated with maternal education.

Parental report of childhood behavioral disorders is not different among offspring conceived with and without ART

Background:Inadequate breastfeeding practices contribute to malnutrition in young children.Aims and objectives:This study examined changes in breastfeeding practices and the nutritional status of children (0–35 months, n = 37154) using data from the nationally-representative Nigerian Demographic and Health Surveys for 1990–2008.Methods:The study estimated the relative changes in the proportion of children meeting recommended breastfeeding practices and the anthropometric indices of the children during the study period, by region, place of residence, maternal education and maternal occupation.Results:In each study year, over 97% of the children were ever breastfed. The proportion of infants breastfed within 1 hour and 1 day of birth increased from 34% to 45.8%, and from 63.8% to 82.3%, respectively. Overall, breastfeeding for ≥ 12 months changed from 88.9% to 95.2%, an increase of 7%; however, an increase of 14% was observed in the northern region (from 86.1% to 97.8%) while a decline of 7% was observed in the southern region (from 97.1% to 89.9%). Over the study period, the prevalence of all the assessed indicators of malnutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) increased in the northern region while the southern region experienced a decline in all except severe wasting. In both urban and rural areas, stunting and wasting increased, while underweight declined. Children of non-formally educated and unemployed mothers were more malnourished in all the study years.Conclusion:Improvement in some breastfeeding practices did not result in improvement in the nutritional status of Nigerian children during 1990–2008, particularly in northern Nigeria and among socially disadvantaged mothers. Improving maternal education and employment, and integrating messages on techniques and benefits of optimal infant feeding with other maternal and child healthcare services could be beneficial.

Background: Research has shown that stunting increases the risk of child death and morbidity due to non-communicable diseases. Stunting may lead to impaired cognitive and motor development and eventually low learning achievement. The prevalence of stunting in children under five in Ratu Samban sub-district of Bengkulu in 2014 was 20.33%. This study aimed to examine the association between family characteristics and stunting in Ratu Samban, Bengkulu. Subject and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at several integrated family health posts (Posyandu), in the working area of Ratu Samban Community Health Center, Bengkulu, in June 2017. A sample of 102 children aged 12-59 months and their mothers were selected for this study. The dependent variable was the stunting. The independent variables are maternal height, education, knowledge, paternal education, family size, and family income level. Data of stunting were measured by anthropometric measurement of height by age (Height for Age). Other variable data were collected using questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Chi-square. Results: The prevalence of stunting was 31.37%. The risk of stunting increased with short maternal height (OR= 1.82; 95% CI= 0.76 to 4.31; p= 0.257), low maternal education (OR= 1.06; 95% CI= 0.43 to 2.62; p= 1.000), low maternal knowledge (OR= 3.83; 95% CI= 1.57 to 9.32; p= 0.005), low paternal education (OR= 2.09; 95% CI= 0.87 to 5.01; p= 0.151), bigger family size (OR= 1.81; 95% CI= 0.78 to 4.20; p= 0.245), and low family income (OR= 1.69; 95% CI= 0.72 to 3.96; p= 0.320), but none of these variables was statistically significant. Conclusion: This study has provided weak evidence that stunting is influenced by maternal height, maternal education, maternal knowledge, paternal education, family size, and family income. Keywords: stunting, family characteristics, children under five

Given the importance of early-life intervention in reducing future obesity, screening models that more accurately identify infants at risk are crucial. The aim of this study was to develop models based solely on growth parameters for better predicting childhood overweight than the current WHO growth chart risk prediction. A retrospective national cohort study was conducted among children born in Israel between August 2014 and June 2016, followed for at least 18 months. Machine learning models were generated to predict childhood overweight. Three models for 0-3, 3-6, and 6-12 months were generated. These models were compared with the current WHO growth chart predictions. The outcome was defined as overweight in early childhood, based on weight-for-length (or weight-for-height) ≥97th percentile, according to WHO standards, measured at 18-36 months of age. Overall, 198,503 children were included, and 150,572, 146,584, and 149,628 infants were included in Models 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with an average target age of two years. The models demonstrated high predictive performance (AUC) for the 0-3 months' model (0.76 [95% CI: 75 to 76.9%]), for the 3-6 months' model (0.822 [95% CI: 81.3 to 83.0%]) and for 6-12-month-old infants (0.872 [95% CI: 86.6 to 87.8%]). The first two models better predict the risk of early childhood overweight than the current WHO growth chart prediction. These models are unique in that they are based on growth parameters, usually screened at early childhood worldwide, and can be implemented in any system collecting growth measurements of infants, providing better risk prediction than the current WHO growth charts. A web calculator is provided.

Background: Poorly nourished child grows less rapidly during first 6 years of age. In India, around 43% of fewer than five children were underweight. Child protein energy malnutrition reflects a number of intermediately processes such as household access to food, access to health service and caring practices. The present study was undertaken to assess prevalence of PEM as well as the nutritional status of children below six years’ age group and to explore most probable risk factors influencing PEM. Methods: The study was a community based cross-sectional study carried out in 500 randomly selected households in a slum area of Gurgaon among the children below 6 years of age using pretested Performa which contained details regarding socio-demographic, nutritional conditions and utilization of health care services. Nutritional status was assessed by Physical examination, anthropometric measurement, haemoglobin and parasitological (stool) tests. Nutritional grading was done according to by physical and anthropometric examination of child using Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) classification and supplemented by WHO growth chart. Data was entered in the MS Excel sheet and analyzed using Epi info Ver 7. Results: During survey acute illness detected among 0.25% children and chronic illness prevalence was 25%. Prevalence of PEM was found to be 43.86% (37.73% among males, 50.0 % among females). Clinical signs of nutritional deficiency were detected among 31.48 % of children. Common types of nutrition deficiency were anemia, PEM, and vitamin A and B complex deficiencies. Main reasons of PEM were attributed to female sex, poor literacy of parents, low socioeconomic status, higher No. siblings and large family, recurrent diarrhea and other infections, prolonged breast feeding with delayed introduction of supplements particularly semisolid and poor quality of supplements. Intestinal parasite detected among 38.43% of children, commonest parasite being giardia, ascariasis and thread worms; existing health services utilized in 30.72% of total illness. This was identified not due to lack of knowledge but other domestic problems. Conclusions: Prevalence of PEM was attributed to poor living conditions, poor literacy status of parents, higher No. of siblings, poor utilization of health services, poor nutritional services of children and faulty breast feeding and weaning practices in the family. Public health specialists should plan interventions focusing on these issues.

Introduction: Nutrition is a major factor that can have long-term effects on the brain’s structural and functional capacity. The interplay between nutrition and child development cannot be overemphasised, especially in developing countries.Objectives: The study aimed to assess the nutritional status of under-fives and determine the relationship between the nutritional status and their developmental quotient.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was undertaken involving 415 under-fives aged 6–59 months in selected pre-schools and immunisation centres. Developmental assessment was done using the Schedule of Growing Skills II. The nutritional status was assessed using the WHO growth charts for weight-for-age, weight-for-height and height-for-age. Chi-square and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were used to determine the association between nutritional status and selected developmental domains.Results: The mean age was 32.6 ± 15.9 months. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. The overall prevalence of developmental delay was 35.4%, with manipulative domain accounting for the highest delay (25.8%). The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was 9.1, 3.8 and 3.8% while 2.2% were overweight. Weight-for-age had a significant association with the hearing and language domain (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.09–9.72, p = 0.036,) and interactive social domain (OR 5.0, 95% CI 2.0–13.0, p = 0.001).Conclusion: The nutritional status of a child has an effect on certain developmental domains of that child. Interventions to improve the nutritional status of under-fives will go a long way to facilitating the development of this group of children.

BackgroundWasting continued to threaten the lives of 52 million (7.7%) under-five children globally. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for one-third of all wasted children globally, and Ethiopia is among the countries with the highest magnitude of Wasting in the region. Despite, the little decrement in the prevalence of other forms of malnutrition (stunting and underweight), the burden of wasting remains the same in the country. Gedeo zone is among those with a high prevalence of under-five wasting.ObjectiveTo identify determinants of wasting among children aged 6–59 months in Wonago Woreda, 2018.MethodsA facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from May 11 to July 21/2018. A total of 356 (119 cases and 237 controls) mothers/caregivers of under-five children who visited the Wonago woreda public health facilities were included in the study using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement. Descriptive analysis was used to describe data. Binary logistic regression was used to identify determinants of wasting among children aged 6–59 months. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in bi-variate analysis entered to multivariate analysis. Those variables with a p-value less than 0.05 during the multivariate regression were considered significant.ResultsDeterminants which found to have an association with wasting in this study were; maternal illiteracy [AOR = 2.48, 95% CI (1.11, 5.53)] family size <3 [AOR = 0.16, 95% CI (0.05, 0.50)] wealth index [AOR = 2.41, 95% CI (1.07, 5.46)] exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months [AOR = 2.71, 95% CI (1.15, 6.40)] dietary diversity [AOR = 5.52, 95% CI (2.06, 14.76)] and children been sick in the last 2 weeks [AOR = 4.36, 95% CI (2.21, 8.61)].Conclusion and recommendationsDeterminants identified were maternal education, family size, wealth index, and exclusive breastfeeding, dietary diversity, and morbidity history of a child in the last 2 weeks. To reduce childhood wasting, due emphasis should be given to empowering women and improving the knowledge and practice of parents on appropriate infant and young child-caring practices.

Malnutrition remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in Ethiopia. The present study aimed to assess determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in the pastoral community of Liban District, Southeastern Ethiopia. A case-control study design was conducted on 89 cases and 177 controls from 1-30 December 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire were used, and anthropometric measurements were done by standardised calibrated instruments to collect data. Data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 25.0 software for analysis. All candidate variables with P < 0⋅25 in bivariate analysis were then entered into multivariable logistic regression. Associated factors were identified at P < 0⋅05 and 95% CI. A total of 266 (89 cases and 177 controls) having a response rate of 96⋅6% being underweight [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 11⋅8, 95% CI 3⋅17, 43⋅89], illness previous 2 weeks (AOR = 3⋅47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1⋅34, 8⋅99), family member with malnutrition (AOR = 4⋅52, 95% CI 1⋅45, 14⋅01), greater than five family size, (AOR = 5⋅33, 95% CI 2⋅08, 13⋅66), mothers unable to read and write (AOR = 3⋅66, 95% CI 1⋅27, 10⋅56), mothers with low decision autonomy (AOR = 5⋅67, 95% CI 2⋅26, 14⋅27), not handwashing at all critical time (AOR = 7⋅23, 95% CI 2⋅74, 19⋅07), not feeding child animal source (AOR = 7⋅13, 95% CI 1⋅98, 25⋅59), bottle feeding (AOR = 7⋅06, 95% CI 2⋅34, 21⋅28) and being married (AOR = 0⋅05, 95% CI 0⋅02, 0⋅19) were significantly associated with acute malnutrition. The present study has confirmed the association of acute malnutrition with maternal education, underweight, family size and inappropriate infant caring practices.

BackgroundThe association between socioeconomic position and diet in early childhood has mainly been addressed based on maternal education and household income. We aimed to assess the influence of a variety of social factors from different socio-ecological levels (parents, household and child-care) on multi-time point dietary patterns identified from 2 to 5 y.MethodThis study included 974 children from the French EDEN mother-child cohort. Two multi-time point dietary patterns were derived in a previous study: they correspond to consistent exposures to either core- or non-core foods across 2, 3 and 5 y and were labelled “Guidelines” and “Processed, fast-foods”. The associations of various social factors collected during pregnancy (age, education level) or at 2-y follow-up (mother’s single status, occupation, work commitments, household financial disadvantage, presence of older siblings and child-care arrangements) with each of the two dietary patterns, were assessed by multivariable linear regression analysis.ResultsThe adherence to a diet close to “Guidelines” was positively and independently associated with both maternal and paternal education levels. The adherence to a diet consistently composed of processed and fast-foods was essentially linked with maternal variables (younger age and lower education level), household financial disadvantage, the presence of older sibling (s) and being cared for at home by someone other than the mother.ConclusionsMultiple social factors operating at different levels (parents, household, and child-care) were found to be associated with the diet of young children. Different independent predictors were found for each of the two longitudinal dietary patterns, suggesting distinct pathways of influence. Our findings further suggest that interventions promoting healthier dietary choices for young children should involve both parents and take into account not only household financial disadvantage but also maternal age, family size and options for child-care.