Abstract
Introduction: The malnutrition in children under 5 years is a serious public health problem in the developing countries such as Mozambique. The stunting can affect cognitive and physical development and compromise the school performance. Method: A cross sectional study was carried out which used the secondary data from a survey conducted by National Health Institute of Mozambique, in districts of Angonia, Tsangano, Magoe and Changara in Tete Province, Mozambique. The polynomial regression model and the hierarchical approach were used to examine the association between social economic factors and malnutrition in children measured by stunting (low height for age) and underweight (low weight for age). Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe stunting was 39.8%, and prevalence of moderate and severe underweight was 19.6%. In the basic level, the households that had 1 durable goods possession were associated to 1.46 times greater than the mild underweight, OR = 1.46 (C.I. 95% 1.02 - 2.11). In the intermediate level, lack of latrine increased 2.01 times greater than the moderate and severe underweight in children, OR = 2.01 (C.I. 95% 1.09 - 3.70); In the immediate level, the child deworming had 1.91 times greater than the moderate and severe stunting, OR = 1.91 (C.I.95% 1.04 - 3.52) and children who did not breastfeed had 2.42 times greater than the moderate and severe stunting, OR = 2.42 (C.I. 1.49 - 3.43). Conclusion: In the countries where the weak health system and the inadequate children food are frequent, the prevalence of undernutrition in children remains very high.
Highlights
The malnutrition in children under 5 years is a serious public health problem in the developing countries such as Mozambique
This study shown that children that lived in the households without latrine increased in 2.01 times greater OR = 2.01 95% (CI 1.09 3.70) in moderate and severe underweight and unimproved latrine OR = 2.17 95% (CI 1.02 - 4.61) increased in 2.17 times greater the moderate and severe stunting when compared with those that had the improved latrine (Table 2)
This study showed that the children up to 2 years who were in breastfeeding adequately had a protective effect of breastfeeding, especially for the children living in the better conditions, when compared to those that had not in breastfeeding OR 1.91 95% (CI 1.04 - 3.52)
Summary
The malnutrition in children under 5 years is a serious public health problem in the developing countries such as Mozambique. Malnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries It affects more than one third of children and is directly associated with morbidity and mortality in children under 05 years old in the world [1]. Results of studies conducted in many regions of the world, such as India in 2014, showed that malnutrition in children under 5 years is associated with food insecurity, inappropriate feeding practices and diseases [5] These determinants are observed in Mozambique among the most socially and economically vulnerable groups [6]. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of undernutrition in children under five years old and examine the socioeconomic factors, according to the basic intermediate and immediate levels of hierarchy in the districts of Angonia, Tsangano, Magoe and Changara in the Province of Tete, Mozambique
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
