Ahamada Hadji, Sunguya Bruno F
School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Front Nutr. 2022 Apr 26;9:885002. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.885002. eCollection 2022.
Undernutrition remains a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries and Comoros is no exception. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and identify the risk factors of undernutrition among children under-five years in Bambao region, Comoros.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bambao region among 837 under-five years and their caregivers. Analyses were conducted using both descriptive and logistic regression to examine the magnitude and factors associated with stunting, wasting and underweight.
Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 21.6, 13.7, and 13.6% respectively. Factors associated with stunting were caregiver's secondary education level compared to no education (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.04-3.43, < 0.04), age of child between 13-24 months compared to 0-12 months (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.44-5.01, < 0.001), and food insecurity (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.20-5.41, < 0.02). Children aged 25-59 months were 78% less likely to have wasting compared to those with 0-12 months (AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10-0.51, < 0.001). Wasting was also associated with food insecurity (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.12-6.49, < 0.03), and low birthweight (AOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.73-5.94, < 0.001). Children aged between 25-59 months were 86% less likely to have underweight compared to those aged 0-12 months (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.36, < 0.001). Food insecurity (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.08-6.54, < 0.03), low birthweight (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.67-5.93, < 0.001), and non-exclusively breastfeeding (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.15-4.90, < 0.02) were also associated with underweight.
More than one in five children under-five is stunted in Bambao region, Comoros. Moreover, more than 13% are underweight or wasted calling for streamlined efforts to address poor feeding practices, food insecurity, low birthweight, and socio-demographic disadvantages in this and other areas with similar context.
营养不良仍是低收入和中等收入国家的一个主要公共卫生问题，科摩罗也不例外。本研究旨在调查科摩罗班包地区五岁以下儿童营养不良的患病率，并确定其风险因素。
本横断面研究在班包地区对837名五岁以下儿童及其照料者进行。采用描述性分析和逻辑回归分析来研究与发育迟缓、消瘦和体重不足相关的程度及因素。
发育迟缓、消瘦和体重不足的患病率分别为21.6%、13.7%和13.6%。与发育迟缓相关的因素包括：照料者接受过中等教育与未接受教育相比（比值比=1.89，95%置信区间：1.04 - 3.43，P<0.04）；儿童年龄在13 - 24个月与0 - 12个月相比（比值比=2.69，95%置信区间：1.44 - 5.01，P<0.001），以及粮食不安全（比值比=2.55，95%置信区间：1.20 - 5.41，P<0.02）。与0 - 12个月的儿童相比，25 - 59个月的儿童消瘦的可能性降低78%（比值比=0.22，95%置信区间：0.10 - 0.51，P<0.001）。消瘦还与粮食不安全（比值比=2.70，95%置信区间：1.12 - 6.49，P<0.03）和低出生体重（比值比=3.21，95%置信区间：1.73 - 5.94，P<0.001）有关。与0 - 12个月的儿童相比，25 - 59个月的儿童体重不足的可能性降低86%（比值比=0.14，95%置信区间：0.06 - 0.36，P<0.001）。粮食不安全（比值比=2.65，95%置信区间：1.08 - 6.54，P<0.03）、低出生体重（比值比=3.15，95%置信区间：1.67 - 5.93，P<0.001）和非纯母乳喂养（比值比=2.37，95%置信区间：1.15 - 4.90，P<0.02）也与体重不足有关。
在科摩罗班包地区，超过五分之一的五岁以下儿童发育迟缓。此外，超过13%的儿童体重不足或消瘦，这就需要在该地区及其他情况类似的地区，为解决不良喂养习惯、粮食不安全、低出生体重和社会人口学劣势问题做出简化努力。
