Abstract
Linear growth is controlled by several factors, malnutrition is one of the leading causes of stunted child growth. The objective of this study was to determine the dietary intakes associated with stunting among pre-school children in rural Upper Egypt. Community-based cross-sectional study. Data were collected by interviewing the children's caregivers in the rural household setting. The study included 497 pre-school children aged 2-5 years in rural Upper Egypt. Food intake data were estimated using 24-h recall method. Anthropometric measurements of children were taken and then converted to z-scores for weight-for-age Z-score, height-for-age Z-score and weight-for-height Z-score. The study included 497 children of which 19·1 % were stunted, 76·3 % did not meet recommended energetic intake and 13·7 % did not meet recommended protein intake and this was significantly higher than non-stunted children. Children who were stunted significantly consumed poultry, eggs and fruits less often than non-stunted children, by regression; male sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1·91), mother's age (0·93), lower socio-economic status (SES); and not meeting recommended protein intake (aOR = 2·26) were found to be associated with stunting. Male sex, younger mothers, lower SES and not meeting recommended energy and protein were statistically associated with stunting. Nutrition education messages encouraging adequate and healthy eating are recommended.
Highlights
2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) which reported that 21 % of children under 5 years of age were stunted with mean height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) of –0·6(14)
The results revealed stunting was associated with sex, mother’s age and education and SE level
Egyptian children who were stunted suffer from poor dietary intake that may play an important role in their linear growth retardation
Summary
Study design and participants This cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from November 2017 to March 2018. The study population consisted of children aged 2–5 years of age and their caregivers in rural Upper Egypt. A random sampling was done to select one district out of the nine districts of the studied area; one village was chosen randomly, considering that the district had homogenous characteristics. All households with a child aged 2 to 5 years of age had an equal chance of being asked to participate in the survey. A required sample size of 258 children was estimated taking into account prevalence of stunting in Egypt of 21·4 % based on Egypt demographic health survey[14] to provide 96 % power at the level of 5 % significance using the statistical software EPI-INFO 7.2.2.6. The investigators introduced themselves to the head of the household and obtained verbal approval for participation in the study
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