Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
Children can be stunted and wasted at the same time. Having both deficits greatly elevates risk of mortality.
The aim of this review article is to estimate the prevalence and burden of children aged 6-59 months concurrently wasted and stunted.
Study design:
This review article included data from demographic and health survey and Multi-indicator Cluster Surveys datasets from 84 countries.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found pooled prevalence of concurrence in the 84 countries was 3.0% [95% CI = 2.97-3.06], ranging from 0% to 8.0%.
The investigators found 9 countries reported a concurrence prevalence greater than 5%. The estimated burden was 5,963,940 children.
The investigators found prevalence of concurrence was highest in the 12- to 24-month age group [4.2%, 95% CI = 4.1-4.3] and was significantly higher among boys [3.54%, 95% CI = 3.47-3.61], compared to girls [2.46%, 95% CI = 2.41-2.52].
The investigators found fragile and conflict-affected states reported significantly higher concurrence [3.6%, 95% CI = 3.5-3.6], than those defined as stable [2.24%, 95% CI = 2.18-2.30].
The investigators concluded prevalence of concurrence (stunted and wasted children at the same time) is highest in the 12- to 24-month age group, especially among boys and in fragile and conflict-affected states. Given the high risk of mortality associated with concurrence, the findings indicate a need to report on this condition as well as investigate whether these children are being reached through existing programmes.
Original title:
Children concurrently wasted and stunted: A meta-analysis of prevalence data of children 6-59 months from 84 countries by Khara T, Mwangome M, […], Dolan C.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28944990
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on food fortification/malnutrition right here.