Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Syst Rev. 2023 Mar 15;12(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02206-4.
Undernutrition is defined as not consuming enough nutrients and energy to meet one's needs for maintaining good health. It is exacerbated by armed conflict. Individuals cannot stick to jobs because of a lack of safety during conflicts, which has an impact on families' ability to purchase food. However, there is a paucity of evidence on pooled evidence on the impact of armed conflict on childhood undernutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months in Africa. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the effects of armed conflict on the magnitude of undernutrition, particularly stunting, underweight, and wasting among children in Africa.
A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, Hinari, and Google Scholar database) to locate potential studies. Heterogeneity between studies was checked using Cochrane Q test statistics and I test statistics. Small-study effects were checked using Egger's statistical test at a 5% significance level. A random-effects model was employed to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated factors of undernutrition among children aged 6-59 months in Africa.
Of a total of 585 articles retrieved from the databases, 12 studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of wasting, stunting, and being underweight among conflict-affected African countries was 20.25% (95%CI = 15.08-25.43), 34.18% (95% CI = 26.34-42.02), and 24.00% (95%CI = 16.35-31.65), respectively. The most consistent factors associated with childhood stunting, wasting, and being underweight in Africa were low mother's education, prolonged duration of armed conflict, and rural place of residence.
The severity of malnutrition crises will be assisted by a better understanding of the variables associated with child malnutrition, which will improve the effectiveness of development and humanitarian responses. We urge that health planners, policymakers, and the general public prioritize children with acute malnutrition in Africa's conflict-affected areas.
PROSPERO CRD42022367487.
营养不良是指摄入的营养和能量不足以满足维持健康的需求。武装冲突加剧了这种情况。由于冲突期间缺乏安全，个人无法坚持工作，这影响了家庭购买食物的能力。然而，关于武装冲突对 6 至 59 个月大的非洲儿童营养不良程度的综合证据很少。因此，本综述旨在研究武装冲突对非洲儿童营养不良（特别是发育迟缓、消瘦和消瘦）严重程度的影响。
使用电子数据库（PubMed、Hinari 和 Google Scholar 数据库）进行全面的文献检索，以确定潜在的研究。使用 Cochrane Q 检验统计量和 I 检验统计量检查研究之间的异质性。使用 Egger 统计检验在 5%的显著性水平下检查小样本效应。采用随机效应模型估计非洲 6-59 个月儿童营养不良的总体流行率和相关因素。
从数据库中检索到的 585 篇文章中，有 12 篇符合我们的纳入标准。受武装冲突影响的非洲国家的消瘦、发育迟缓、消瘦的总体流行率分别为 20.25%（95%CI=15.08-25.43）、34.18%（95%CI=26.34-42.02）和 24.00%（95%CI=16.35-31.65）。与非洲儿童发育迟缓、消瘦和消瘦最一致的相关因素是母亲受教育程度低、武装冲突持续时间长和农村居住地。
更好地了解与儿童营养不良相关的变量将有助于更好地了解营养不良危机的严重程度，从而提高发展和人道主义应对措施的效果。我们敦促卫生规划者、政策制定者和公众优先考虑非洲受冲突影响地区急性营养不良的儿童。
PROSPERO CRD42022367487。
