Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Trends and Determinants of Malnutrition in Children-A Sub-Analysis of Pakistan DHS Data

Context: Child malnutrition is a serious public health threat. In Pakistan, there is rare data regarding comparison of linear trends and determinants of historical data with recent one.

Objectives: To measure linear trends of child malnutrition and its determinants according to the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-2018 data.Objectives: To measure linear trends of child malnutrition and its determinants according to the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-2018 data.

Methods: A sub-analysis of Pakistan DHS data 2017-2018 was conducted and data on 4226 children under 5 years was analyzed. The study outcome was measurement of linear trends of malnutrition over the years from DHS 1991 to up to DHS 2018. Comparison of trends of stunting, wasting and underweight was done between two time periods i.e., 1991 to 2012 (past) and 2013 to 2018 (recent). Analysis was done in STATA 10.0.

Results: The mean age was 2.1 ± 1.3 years with male dominance 2145 (50.7%). Stunting, wasting and underweight rates were measured at 38%, 7.1% and 23.0% respectively. The reduction in stunting and underweight rates was 5% and 10% between 1991 and 2012 whereas wasting increased by 1.6%. In recent past (2013 to 2018) stunting and underweight reduced by 7% points each while wasting dropped by 4%. Chronic malnutrition decreased greatly in the last decade. Lack of paternal education, small size at birth, poor socioeconomic status, home delivery, rural residence, and regions of Sindh and Baluchistan were more likely to suffer from stunting and underweight.

Conclusion: Stunting, wasting and underweight have gained a steady dip recently in Pakistan which is a sign of human and national progress. However, this progress needs sustainability.

Author(s): Abrar-ul-Haq Satti, Muhammad Arsalan Farooq, Saleha Ahsan, Muqadar Shah, Muhammad Imran, Saira Mehmood, Raza Hussain Shah, Maria Shamsher, Rizwan Taj, Najma Ayub, Atteaya Zaman, Arham Rizwan Khan and Saleem Abbasi

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