Anaqreh Abdullah H, Hamad Hani J, Al-Dabbas Maher M, Sundookah Ahmad, Alhalaiqa Fadwa, Al-Jaloudi Rawan, Al-Ma'ani Mohammad A, Al-Tarawneh Radi A
Department of Environment and Food Control, Irbid Health Directorate- Ministry of Health, Jordan.
Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Philadelphia University, Jordan.
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Apr;66:255-261. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.01.058. Epub 2025 Jan 31.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies found a high prevalence of household food insecurity (HFI) and malnutrition and an association between them during the movement restriction period of the corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This nutritional status should have improved by now as movement restrictions, including quarantine, have been lifted. Therefore, the goal of this cross-sectional study was to determine the current prevalence of HFI and malnutrition and their associations and contributing factors among pre-school children (i.e., children under the age of 5 years) following relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions in Jordan.
A sample of 386 children (197 boys and 189 girls) in Irbid, Jordan, were recruited in this study following the simple random sampling method. The levels of HFI and malnutrition were assessed using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and the World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference values, respectively. Relevant information were managed and measurements made and employed to calculate four major anthropometric indicators for the sample children (weight for height (WHZ), height for age z-score (HAZ), weight for age z-score (WAZ) and body mass index (BMI)-for-age z-score.
The results of analysis pointed out that prevalence of food security among the sample children was 58.2 %, where 19.9 % of the kids were experiencing moderate food insecurity and 38.3 % were suffering from severe food insecurity. On the other hand, prevalence of malnutrition among those children was 1.81 %, where 1.55 % of the kids were emaciated and 1.26 % were severely emaciated. The results also indicated that mother's age, number of children in the family, income of the family, monthly expenses on food and beverages and the energy expenses contributed significantly (p < 0.05) to food insecurity. Moreover, the study found that HFI had negative correlations with WHZ (r = -0.272, p = 0.000), WAZ (r = -0.193, p = 0.000) and BMI-for-age z-score (r = -0.263, p = 0.000) and a positive correlation with HAZ (r = 0.041, p = 0.00).
The study reports high prevalence of HFI among children under the age of 5 years in Jordan, even after relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions on mobility. However, prevalence of malnutrition among this group of the population is low. These results spotlight the continued impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the financial statuses of households.
研究发现，在2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行的行动限制期间，家庭粮食不安全（HFI）和营养不良的发生率很高，且二者之间存在关联。随着包括隔离在内的行动限制措施解除，目前这种营养状况应该有所改善。因此，这项横断面研究的目的是确定在约旦放宽COVID-19限制措施后，学前儿童（即5岁以下儿童）中HFI和营养不良的当前发生率及其关联和影响因素。
本研究采用简单随机抽样方法，在约旦伊尔比德招募了386名儿童（197名男孩和189名女孩）。分别使用粮食不安全经历量表（FIES）和世界卫生组织（WHO）生长参考值评估HFI和营养不良的水平。对相关信息进行管理、测量，并用于计算样本儿童的四个主要人体测量指标（身高别体重（WHZ）、年龄别身高Z评分（HAZ）、年龄别体重Z评分（WAZ）和年龄别体重指数（BMI）Z评分）。
分析结果指出，样本儿童中粮食安全的发生率为58.2%，其中19.9%的儿童经历中度粮食不安全，38.3%的儿童遭受严重粮食不安全。另一方面，这些儿童中营养不良的发生率为1.81%，其中1.55%的儿童消瘦，1.26%的儿童严重消瘦。结果还表明，母亲年龄、家庭子女数量、家庭收入、食品和饮料月支出以及能源支出对粮食不安全有显著影响（p<0.05）。此外，研究发现HFI与WHZ（r=-0.272，p=0.000）、WAZ（r=-0.193,p=0.000）和年龄别BMI Z评分（r=-0.263，p=0.000）呈负相关，与HAZ呈正相关（r=0.041，p=0.00）。
该研究报告称，即使在放宽COVID-19行动限制后，约旦5岁以下儿童中HFI的发生率仍然很高。然而，这一人群中营养不良的发生率较低。这些结果突出了COVID-19危机对家庭财务状况的持续影响。
