Nutritional Status Of Children Research Articles

Household food security and WASH practices in children with undernutrition: a case study in low middle income area in Semarang, Indonesia

Purpose: This study analyzed the correlation between household food security (HFS) and WASH practices toward nutritional status in children with undernutrition. Methods: This type of research was analytically observational with a cross-sectional design. The sample in this study was 55 mothers with children with a history of undernutrition aged 6 to 23 months. The Rank Spearman test was conducted to analyze this study. Results: The prevalence of stunted and severely stunted was 34.55%, respectively; underweight and severely underweight were 36.36%, respectively; and wasted and severely wasted were 30.91 and 16.36% respectively. The percentage of respondents with mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity were 23.6, 7.3, and 12.7% respectively. The average value of WASH practices was rated as good among all respondents. Household food security score was associated with WAZ (p=0.008 and r=0.352) and HAZ (p=0.027 and r=0.299) but was not associated with WHZ (p=0.067; r=0.248). WASH practice was associated with WAZ (p=0.000; r=0.504), HAZ (p=0.000; r=0.455), and WHZ (p=0.000; r=0.334). Conclusion: There were still conditions of severe food insecurity and undernutrition problems that need the focus of attention. There is a need for monitoring by looking at certain aspects, such as HFS and WASH practices in reducing undernutrition.

Anemia and associated factors among under-five children attending public Hospitals in Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Childhood anemia is a significant global public health problem. It influences the physical and cognitive development, as well as immunity of affected children. This in turn leads to poor academic performance, low working potential, and increased morbidity and mortality. There is limited facility-based data on the magnitude and predictors of anemia among under-five children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among under-five children attending public Hospitals in Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital and Jugal Hospital from July 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022. A total of 330 under-five children were involved by systematic random sampling technique. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and other possible factors were collected through face-to-face interviews with children's parents/legal guardians. Four milliliters of venous blood samples were collected for a complete blood cell count. Collected data were checked for completeness, entered into Epi-Data Statistical Software Version 4.6, and exported into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted and P < .05 were considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of anemia was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.9%-37.9%). Age of children 6 to 11 months (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.55-10.01) and 12 to 23 months (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.15-7.43), no maternal education (AOR = 4.34, 95% CI: 1.53-12.35), not exclusively breastfeeding (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.11-3.52), being severely stunted (AOR = 3.39, 95 CI: 1.70-6.75), and underweight (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.12-3.87) were significantly associated with anemia among under-five children. In this study, anemia among under-five children is a moderate public health problem. This study revealed that young child age, maternal education level, early initiation of complementary feeding, and child undernutrition were factors associated with anemia. Thus, efforts should be made to improve the child's nutritional status as well as enhance maternal awareness of nutrition and child-feeding practice through health education. Regular childhood nutritional screening and appropriate intervention for malnutrition are needed. Besides, further studies assessing serum micronutrient levels should be conducted to differentiate the specific cause and type of anemia.

The Effect of Childhood Nutritional Status Changes with Pre-Diabetes And Diabetes Risk among Adolescents: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The first 1000 days of life and before the age of five years is a critical period of nutritional opportunity and vulnerabilitya. Only few have studies that trace individuals from childhood to adolescence examined the influence of childhood undernutrition on diabetes risk. This research was a retrospective cohort study using secondary data from IFLS (Indonesian Family Life Survey) involving 373 adolescents at IFLS-5 (2014) that folllowed at IFLS-3 (2000) and at IFLS-2 (1997). The effect of childhood undernutrition on the risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes in adolescents was analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. The results of this study showed that the prevalence of pre-diabetes was 12.6% and diabetes was 15.0%. The risk factor for pre-diabetes is frequent consumption of fast food (aOR=4.38). Meanwhile, recovering from stunting was a protective factor in adolescents (aOR=0.05). Risk factors for diabetes were stunting (aOR=2.71), deteriorated nutritional status during childhood (aOR=3.85), experienced wasting during childhood (aOR=3.55), and frequent fast food consumption (aOR=3.11). Meanwhile, vegetable consumption was a protective factor of diabetes (aOR=0.37). In conclusion, this study showed that childhood undernutrition on the risk of diabetes. Improvement point is through nutrition programs in childhood and adolescence.

Insights from a Cross-sectional Study on Nutritional Status in Children

This study investigates the relationship between diet, medical history, and nutritional status in 48 children aged 3-5 from Kindergarten Tegalasri Village, Blitar Regency. Using observational analysis with a cross-sectional approach, data on eating habits and medical records were collected. The results, analyzed using chi-square tests, indicated no significant correlation between diet or viral disease history and the children's nutritional status. These findings suggest that factors beyond diet and infections may play a more significant role in determining the nutritional status of children in this demographic, highlighting the need for further research and targeted interventions to promote better nutritional outcomes Highlight: Children's Nutrition: Diet and Medical History Impact on Well-being. Cross-sectional Study: Understanding Factors Influencing Nutritional Status in Young Children. Key Keywords: Nutrition, Children, Diet, Medical History, Cross-sectional Study. Keyword: Nutrition, Children, Diet, Medical History, Cross-sectional Study

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION OCCURRENCE AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS IN KIHENDA VILLAGE HOIMA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION OCCURRENCE AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS IN KIHENDA VILLAGE HOIMA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Pattern Of Breast Feeding, Weaning And Nutritional Status Of Under Five Children Of Working Mothers Of Bangladesh Armed Forces

Background: Adequate nutrition is essential in early childhood to ensure healthy growth, proper organ formation and function, a strong immune system, and neurological and cognitive development. The objective of the study is to assess the pattern of breast feeding, weaning and dietary behavior of under-five children of working mothers attended Child Welfare Centre (CWC), Malobika and Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at CWC, Malobika and Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka over a period of six months from July 2017 to December 2017. All under-five years old sick children of employed mothers of Bangladesh Armed Forces attended CWC Malobika and CMH, Dhaka were included in the study and mothers were the respondents. Total 130 children were selected purposively for the study. Data were analyzed by using SPSS (statistical package for social sciences), version 25.0. The level of significance was set at 5% and p &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Majority (92.3%) of the children was nutritionally normal in terms Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC). Only 10(7.7%) children was malnourished; of them 6(4.6%) were severely malnourished and 4(3.1%) were moderately malnourished. In terms of Weight for Age Z score (WAZ) 3.1% were severe underweight and another 3.1% were moderate underweight. In terms of Height for Age Z score (HAZ), 5.4% were severely stunted and 6.2% were moderately stunted, while with respect to Weight for Height Z score (WHZ), 2.3% were severely wasted and 7.7% were moderately wasted. Conclusion: Nutritional status in children of working mothers of Armed Forces at Dhaka Garrison was high compared to the national figure. Bangladesh Armed Forces Med J Vol 56 No (1) June 2023, pp 35-41

Impact of community nutrition project on malnutrition in children under five: a case of SPRING Ghana project

This study examines the effects of the Strengthening Partnership, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) project on malnutrition, stunting, acute malnutrition, and underweight among children under the age of five. The project was implemented in the northern and upper-East regions of Ghana in 2014 and ended in December 2017. We employed the Difference-in-Difference (DID) estimation approach to analyze the project's impact. Our analysis showed a strong positive association between the project's effect on the probability of stunting and underweight by 11% (p=0.01) and 9% (p=0.003), respectively, in the treated regions compared with the untreated regions. However, we found no evidence of the project’s effect on acute malnutrition. We also provide suggestive evidence that the project may have influenced child nutrition status through antenatal care attendance. This study demonstrated that tackling child nutrition deficiencies through an integrated holistic approach, such as early Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance, increased access to high-quality foods, improving women's nutrition knowledge, and improving agricultural practices, can significantly reduce childhood stunting and underweight.

Revisiting swimming against tide; inequalities in child malnutrition in Nepal

BackgroundChild stunting, child underweight, and child wasting in Nepal decreased from 48%, 47%, and 11% to 25%, 19%, and 9%, respectively, between 1996 and 2022. Despite an overall reduction in prevalence rates, economically poor and geographically backward regions in Nepal have not seen equivalent improvement in child undernutrition similar to their richer and developed regions, leading to increased differences in undernutrition prevalence across the wealth quintiles. This study aimed to assess time trends in the average and inequality of child nutritional status by household wealth across Nepal's geographical spaces from 1996 to 2022.MethodsThis study utilized data from four rounds (1996, 2006, 2016, and 2022) of the Nepal Demographics and Health Survey (NDHS). The nutritional status of children below three years of age, measured by stunting, wasting, and underweight, served as the main dependent variable. Household wealth status, determined by binary responses regarding possession of household assets, acted as a proxy for economic status. The study employed point prevalence for average, Concentration Index (CI), Poorest-Richest-Ratio (P-R-R), and Poorer-Richer-Ratio (Pr-Rr-R) to analyze trends in child nutritional status by wealth quintiles.ResultsFrom 1996 to 2022, Nepal exhibited an increasing Concentration Index and an upward trend in P-R-R measures of inequality in child stunting. The P-R-R increased from 1.77 in 1996 to 2.51 in 2022, However, results show a concurrent decrease in Pr-Rr-R from 1.19 to 1.18, assessing the prevalence of stunting among children. In the prevalence of child underweight, the P-R-R and Pr-Rr-R were 1.88 and 1.19 in 1996, decreasing to 1.47 and 1.10, respectively, in 2022.ConclusionThe results indicated that inequalities in child nutrition across wealth status show an increase in stunting but marginal decline in underweight and wasting. Therefore, the study underscores the need for inclusive policy and program interventions to achieve equitable improvement in child stunting in Nepal, ensuring that progress extends to children in the poorest wealth quintile households. However, the progress is equitable in child underweight and wasting.

Association of child marriage and nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study with a nationally representative sample

BackgroundChild marriage remains an important problem around the world with young mothers and their under-five children often experiencing under-nutrition. The problem is rarely studied in the Bangladeshi population. This paper was designed to identify the association between child marriage and nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children in Bangladesh.MethodsNationally representative secondary data was used for this study, data was extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017–18. The sample consisted of 7235 mothers aged 18–49 years and their under-five children. The mothers were classified into two classes according to their age at first marriage: (i) child marriage (marriage at < 18 years) and (ii) not child marriage (marriage at ≥ 18 years). The nutritional status of mothers was measured by body mass index (BMI), and under-five children’s nutritional status was measured by (i) height-for-age (z-score) (stunting), (ii) weight-for-age (z-score) (underweight), and (iii) weight-for-height (z-score) (wasting). The chi-square test and two-level logistic regression model were used for data analysis using SPSS software (IBM version 20).ResultsThe prevalence of child marriage among Bangladeshi women was 69.0%, with the mean and median of age at the first marriage being 16.57 ± 2.83 years and 16 years, respectively. Of the mothers, 15.2% suffered from chronic energy deficiency (underweight), and 72.8% were married at < 18 years. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among under-five children in Bangladesh was 31.0%, 22.0%, and 8.5%, respectively. Compared to women married at the age of ≥ 18 years, there was a significantly higher likelihood of chronic energy deficiency among women who married at < 18 years [Adjusted OR = 1.27, CI: 1.05–1.82; p < 0.05]. Under-five children of mothers married before the age of 18 were more likely to have stunting [Adjusted OR = 1.201, CI: 1.11–1.72; p < 0.05], wasting [Adjusted OR = 1.519, CI: 1.15-2.00; p < 0.01], and underweight [Adjusted OR = 1.150, CI: 1.09–1.82; p < 0.05] compared to children of mothers who married at age ≥ 18.ConclusionThe rate of child marriage among Bangladeshi women is high, and it is significantly associated with malnutrition among mothers and their under-five children. The Bangladesh government can use the findings of this study to prevent and reduce child marriage and malnutrition among mothers and their under-five children to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030.

National Dietary Survey on the children population

Abstract The national food consumption survey on the children population in Poland was conducted from August 2019 to February 2020 and was funded by EFSA under the EU Menu project. It aimed at collecting food consumption data of a representative sample of children living in Poland and followed the EFSA EU Menu methodology. Altogether 2605 subjects aged three months to nine years old were invited to participate in the study out of which participants were 1,574 children (780 boys and 794 girls) with a response rate of 60%. An additional group of 300 vegetarians aged six to nine years old was also recruited. After verifying the collected data, EFSA accepted the data from 1565 subjects (777 boys, 788 girls) in the main group and 294 subjects (147 boys, 147 girls) in the group of vegetarians. Data on food consumption was collected by means of two non‐consecutive food dietary record method using a web‐based tool intended for 24‐hour dietary recall method. In addition, a food propensity questionnaire was used. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were made to assess the nutritional status of the participants. The level of physical activity was assessed with a short questionnaire, using questions from HBSC (Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children) Polish Study. Before the main study the pilot study was conducted for verifying the feasibility of the study organization. The collected data will be used to update the Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, which is regulated and administered by EFSA. The results will allow the evaluation of diet and nutritional status of children in Poland, including the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity.

GERAKAN ORANG TUA ASUH MENGATASI STUNTING

The incidence of stunting in Liliba Village, Oebobo Subdistrict, Kupang City, recorded 185 children experiencing stunting. There are 20 malnourished children and 70 undernourished children. Methods of stunting education and foster parent program to overcome stunting. Activities were carried out in May-August 2023. Activities were carried out in the Liliba sub-district of Kupang City. The activity results are Child A's nutritional status before the foster parent movement: body weight 11.3 kg, TB 82.6, and Lila 14.5. After 90 days of feeding, the weight was 12.4 kg, TB 85.8, and Lila 15.4. For Child J, the nutritional status of Child A before the foster parent movement was 9 kg, TB 75.3, and Lila 14.5. After 90 days of feeding, the weight was 9.1 kg, TB 78.1, and Lila 14.8. The results of educational activities are that parents' knowledge of Posyandu Jasmine 12 increased. The knowledge test results found that most participants had good knowledge before education, namely 50%. After education, 80% of family knowledge about stunting is excellent. Education about stunting is excellent for families to prevent stunting. The OTA2S program has a good impact on the nutritional status of stunted children.

Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children less than five years visiting health centers in Leqa Dulacha District, East Wallaga Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia: A case control study.

In underdeveloped nations like Ethiopia, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is one of the most pressing public health issues. Despite efforts to pinpoint the causes of SAM, the impact of parents' drug usage on their children's nutritional status remains unclear and unresolved. The purpose of this research was to determine the risk factors for SAM in children under five who were attending medical facilities in the Leqa Dulacha district. A health facility-based case-control study was carried out from March 1 to July 30, 2022, with 256 children under the age of five. Random sampling was used to identify study participants in a methodical manner. Mothers and other child caretakers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were performed using standardized, calibrated equipment. Epi-data version 3.1 was used to code and enter the data, and it was then exported to IBM SPSS for analysis. An analysis of multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted, and the measure of association employed was the adjusted odds ratio (AOR), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 96.5% of respondents responded. SAM in children was significantly correlated with the following factors: parent alcohol consumption [AOR = 3.142; 95% CI = (1.104, 8.945)]; child illness in the previous 15 days [AOR = 4.122; 95% CI = (1.686, 10.07)]; poor dietary diversity [AOR = 3.044; 95% CI = (1.189, 7.788)]; household food insecurity [AOR = 4.024; 95% CI = (1.544, 10.490)]; and parent chewing chat [AOR = 3.484; 95% CI = (1.329, 9.134)]. A number of factors have been linked to SAM in children, including the use of health services, the child's illness within the previous 15 days, food security, child feeding practices, and parent substance use. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the value of health education programs on child feeding habits, particularly the significance of dietary diversity, and to work together to modify the way that parents raise their children.

FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PRAKTIK IBU DALAM PEMBERIAN MAKANAN BAGI BALITA USIA 12-60 BULAN BERSTATUS GIZI KURANG DI WILAYAH PUSKESMAS LENGKONG KABUPATEN NGANJUK

Nutritional status in children under five is closely related to various factors, including maternal age, maternal education, family income, maternal nutritional knowledge, maternal attitudes and maternal practices in providing food. This study aims to determine the factors that influence mothers' practices in providing food to toddlers aged 12-60 months with malnutrition status in the Lengkong Community Health Center area. Method The type of research is quantitative research, with a cross sectional study approach. The research sample was mothers who had toddlers aged 12-60 months with malnutrition, a total of 30 children taken using purposive sampling. Nutritional status data based on anthropometric measurements of BW/U is compared with the WHO_NCHS Z-score value. Data analysis was carried out using univariate analysis and bivariate analysis. The results of bivariate analysis showed mother's age (p= 0.713), mother's last education (p=0.015), family income (p=0.256). maternal nutritional knowledge (p-0333), and maternal attitude (p=0.006). Meanwhile, from the multivariate analysis, it was found that maternal education (p=0.216), maternal family income (p=0.462) and maternal attitude (p=0.998). Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, the mother's attitude factor is the factor that has the most influence on the malnutrition status of children under five because the value obtained is &lt;0.998. The discussion of factors that influence mothers' practices in providing food for toddlers with low nutritional status is due to the characteristics of the mother, education and family income), knowledge and attitudes. In conclusion, it can be concluded that there are three factors that influence mothers' practices in providing food for toddlers aged 12-60 months with malnutrition status, namely maternal education, family income and maternal attitudes.

The Relationship of Mother's Knowledge Level And Mp-Asi Feeding Patterns and Baby's Nutritional Status Age 6-12 Months at Rantang Health Center

The toddler period is a very important period and needs serious attention. During this period the life process of growth and development takes place very rapidly, namely physical growth and psychomotor, mental and social development. The nutritional status of children under five is an important thing that must be known by every parent. Mothers play an important role in supporting efforts to overcome nutritional problems, especially in terms of family nutrition, starting from food preparation, selection of food ingredients, to the food menu. Mothers who have good nutritional status will give birth to well-nourished children. Lack of parental nutrition and health knowledge, especially mothers is one of the causes of malnutrition in children under five. Mother's knowledge about nutrition is what the mother knows about healthy food for a certain age group and how the mother chooses, processes and prepares food properly. The aim is to determine the relationship between the mother's level of knowledge and the pattern of complementary feeding of breast milk on the nutritional status of toddlers 6-12 months in the working area of the Rantang Health Center, Sei Putih Tengah Village, Medan Petisah District, North Sumatra. This type of research is an analytic method with a cross sectional approach. The sample in this study were all children aged 6-12 months inti the Rantang Health Center, namely 54 children. Bivariate analysis used the Chi-Square (?2) statistical test. The results of the statistical test obtained a p value of 0.002 (? &lt;0.05), which means that there is a relationship, namely the relationship between maternal nutritional knowledge regarding the pattern of giving complementary foods and the nutritional status of toddlers aged 6-24 months

Assessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Children (0-23 Months) Accessing Care in Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF) Practices in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano

Introduction: Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices have substantial outcomes for the growth, development, and survival of infants and children during the first two years of age and throughout their lifetime. The study aimed to assess the dietary intake and nutritional status of children (0–23 months) registered for care in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 randomly selected caregiver-child pairs accessing care in the hospital. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and dietary intake information from the respondents. Anthropometric indices of weight for age, length for age, and weight for length measurements were used to assess the nutritional status of children. Result: Female caregivers were the most participants in this study 122 (98.2%). For marital status, almost all 124 (99.4%) of the mothers were married and only 1 each of the mothers reported to be single and being widowed. About 76 (60.8%) of the study population attended secondary education. The major occupation of the caregivers is trading in 92.4%. Dietary intake consists mainly of legumes in 30.0% and cereals in 56.5%. Only 39.0% portion of the population met the minimum World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of dietary diversity and over 79.8% of the caregivers were still breastfeeding during the period of the study, 18% of them initiated breastfeeding within 1 h of birth and only 16.2% exclusively breastfed their children; majority 70.6% of the caregivers breastfed on demand while with a small proportion of 26.1% and 3.3% responded to breastfeeding when convenient and breastfeeding at a scheduled time respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that the nutritional status of the children was poor. Up to 60 (51.2%), 98 (88.3%), and 74 (65.1%) of the infants were wasted, underweight, and stunted, respectively. The study also revealed that the nutritional status of the children (WLZ, WAZ, and LAZ) was significantly related to the dietary diversity at p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.019, respectively. This study revealed poor IYCF practices in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to the specific behaviors surrounding feeding practices and other constraints to children accessing care in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano.

Nutritional status of children with neurodevelopmental disorders: a cross-sectional study at a tertiary-level hospital in northern Bangladesh

BackgroundMalnutrition in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) is a significant global public health issue. Nutritional assessment combined with management or advice are essential to produce optimal outcomes.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to assess nutritional status and the sociodemographic profile of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from December to April 2020 among the population of children with NDDs who presented to the pediatric department of the TMSS Medical College and Rafatullah Community Hospital in Bogura during this period. Socio-demographic data along with anthropometric measurements of the children were taken. Assessment of nutritional status were made using metrics such as z-scores for weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and body mass index-for-age (BAZ). Descriptive statistics (number and percentage) and analytical statistics (chi-square and logistic regression) were included.Results58.6% of children displayed malnutrition, with 47.8% showing undernutrition (WHZ / BAZ − 1 SD-≤-3 SD), and 10.8% overnutrition (BAZ > 2SD). Significant negative associations were found between malnutrition and parental education level, urban residency, and monthly family income. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy exhibited twice the likelihood to be malnourished (AOR 2.39, 95% CI 0.83–6.87). Furthermore, residing in rural regions was associated with an increased risk of experiencing malnutrition, as indicated by an adjusted odds ratio of 1.60 (95% CI 0.12–3.09).ConclusionsWhile the results are cross-sectional, over half of children with NDDs were found to be malnourished, suggesting that children with NDD in Bangladesh are vulnerable to developing any form of malnutrition. Therefore, regular assessments and timely nutritional support may improve their situation.

Maternal employment status and child age are positive determinants of minimum dietary diversity among children aged 6-23 months in Sagnarigu municipality, Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Intake of a diversified diet is key to the prevention of malnutrition among children as it results in improved intake of energy and micronutrients, which are deemed critical for better nutritional status of children. This study assessed minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and its determinants among children aged 6-23 months in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana. This was an analytical cross-sectional study, carried out in the Sagnarigu Municipality, Ghana and involved 369 mother-child pairs selected through a systematic random sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, feeding practices, nutritional knowledge and anthropometry. MDD was assessed using a repeated 24-hour dietary recall method. Chi-square/Fisher exact test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors associated with MDD. The study found that 24.9% of the children were between the ages of 6-8 months and 75.1% were between the ages of 9-23 months. About 64.2% of the children met the MDD. Children of mothers who were self-employed were approximately 2 times more likely to meet the MDD as compared to children of mothers who were unemployed [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR): 1.93, 95% CI (1.13-3.31), P = 0.017]. Also, children aged 9-23 months were approximately 14 times more likely to meet MDD as compared to younger children aged 6-8 months [AOR: 13.98, 95% CI (7.54-25.91), P < 0.001]. Our study suggests that maternal empowerment may have positive effects on improving the MDD of infants and young children.

Disparities with global standards about growth references of mid-upper arm circumference-for-age for Pakistani children aged 6-60 months.

Growth reference values about mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) are vital for assessing children's nutritional status. However, Pakistan lacks these reference values and growth charts. This study aims to develop these for children aged 6-60 months and compare them with global standards. The data were acquired from the 2018 National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan, which was conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) during 2018-2019. The final study cohort comprised 57 285 children, with 51% being boys. Percentile values and charts for MUAC-for-age were developed using generalised additive models for location, scale and shape with the Box-Cox power exponential distribution. The mean MUAC was 14.21 cm (±2.07 cm) and 14.13 cm (±2.12 cm) for the boys and girls, respectively. At 60 months of age, the P3 and P97 percentiles for girls were slightly higher than those for boys. The median percentiles of Pakistani children were smaller than the World Health Organisation 2007 standards and with international references. We observed disparities in MUAC-for-age growth references among Pakistani children compared to global standards, highlighting regional, age and gender variations. This underscores the need for developing countries like Pakistan to establish their growth references.

Prenatal, newborn and childhood factors and the timing of puberty in boys and girls

BackgroundOur aim was to determine if prenatal factors, gestational age, birth weight and length, and childhood body mass index (BMI) are associated with the timing of puberty.MethodsOur population-based study comprised 4826 girls and 5112 boys born between 1997 and 2002. Multiple linear regression modeled the relationships between the maternal and child predictors and the age at peak height velocity (PHV).ResultsMaternal smoking throughout pregnancy was associated with earlier age at PHV (−1.8 months in girls, 95%CI = −3.2 to −0.3, p = 0.015 and −1.7 months in boys, 95%CI = −3.1 to −0.3, p = 0.016). Older gestational age predicted later age at PHV in boys. One SDS increase in birth weight led to 1.7 months later age at PHV in girls (95%CI = 1.2 to 2.2, p < 0.001) and 0.8 months in boys (95%CI = 0.2 to 1.3, p = 0.005). At the age of 9 years, each increment of BMI by 1 kg/m2 was associated with 1.7 months (95%CI = −1.9 to −1.6, p < 0.001) and 1.3 months (95%CI = −1.4 to −1.1, p < 0.001) earlier age at PHV in girls and boys, respectively.ConclusionsFetal exposure to smoking can potentially exert enduring effects on pubertal timing. Birth weight and childhood nutritional status are significant determinants of pubertal timing in both sexes.ImpactMaternal smoking was associated with earlier timing of puberty and greater birth weight with later timing of puberty in both girls and boys.Most previous studies have focused on girls and used surveys to assess pubertal development, but we studied both sexes and used the same objective measure (age at peak height velocity) for the timing of puberty.Our study increases knowledge especially regarding factors associated with the timing of puberty among boys.

Associations of Ultrasound Findings with Serum Iron and Ferritin Levels in Children with Obesity.

The nutritional status of children is always a concern for medical professionals. Increasingly, obesogenic factors have created a new global epidemic. Obesity is characterized by persistent inflammation, which can have detrimental effects on the growth and development of children. Iron and ferritin are both important factors to consider when evaluating these children due to their role in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammation. Recently, ultrasonographic evaluation seems to be an increasingly used method in pediatric clinical practice. In this study, we included 98 children aged 6-14 years, 72 of whom were obese and 26 had normal weight. The data obtained indicated that there was an association between low iron and increased ferritin levels, aspects of non-alcoholic fatty liver visualized by ultrasonography, and the degree of fibrosis assessed elastographically. Ultrasonography can help us identify liver damage, but the possibility of identifying an association with other paraclinical investigations such as iron and ferritin levels can be cumulative. In this way, the assessment can be more complex, as the child benefits from comprehensive evaluation and management. The results drew attention to non-invasive, easy-to-perform, and low-cost methods of assessing obese children in terms of iron metabolism and structural liver changes.