Prevalence of malnutrition in School aged children, Kassala State, Sudan

Abstract

Background : Childhood malnutrition is a major concern in developing countries due to high morbidity and mortality rate. To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among school children, Kassala State, A cross-sectional study was conducted randomly among 2638 children. Height for age and body mass index for age z scores were calculated using WHO Anthro Plus software as indicators of stunting and thinness respectively. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to determine the associated factors. Results: The overall prevalence of stunted and thinness was 22.1% and 32.3% respectively. Stunting was significantly higher among children in age group 13-15 years old (OR 3.788; 95% CI: 2.802- 5.123), boys (OR 1.394; 95% CI: 1.114-1.743) and children from rural areas (OR 2.406; 95% CI: 1.768- 3.274). Likewise thinness was significantly higher among boys (OR 1.717; 95% CI: 1.436- 2.052), Rural residence (OR 1.885; 95% CI: 1.487- 2.389), child whose families depend on unsafe source of drinking water (OR 2.205; 95% CI: 1.484- 3.276). Moreover, children who skipped meal during the school day or bring their food from their houses OR 2.744; 95% CI: 2.131- 3.532, 1.752(95% CI: 1.441- 2.129) respectively). Maternal education and occupation, in addition to family size and child ordered had no effect on the prevalence of malnutrition. Conclusions: In the present study, different forms of malnutrition was documented and affected by child age, gender, residence, source of drinking water. Therefore, more attention is needed to focus on nutrition status, improving the school environment, maternal education, and regular health assessment.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among primary school children in Kandahar city, Afghanistan: a cross-sectional analytical study

“…Nearly same prevalence of wasting/thinness was observed in Ghana (prevalence was 19.4% among 650 school children) (16), Sri Lanka (prevalence was 20.9% among 4484 school students aged 5-10 years) (19) and Sudan (prevalence was 23.1% among 835 primary school children aged 6-14 years) (24). Contrary to this study, increased prevalence of wasting/thinness was reported from India (prevalence was 33.3% among urban school age children) (22), Sudan (prevalence was 32.3% among 2638 school children aged 5-15 years) (17), and Democratic Republic of Congo (prevalence was 29.7% among 197 primary school children aged 7-17 years) (4),. Lower prevalence of wasting/thinness than this study were observed in Pakistan (prevalence was 10.1% among 1860 urban primary school children aged 5-12 years) (23), Ethiopia (prevalence was 9.8% among 396 urban primary school children aged 5-12 years) (25), Kenya (prevalence was 4.5% among 384 school children aged 6-12 years living in a low-income urban community) (20), and India (prevalence was 2.0% among 100 rural school children aged 6-14 years) (18).…”

“…Compared to this study, higher prevalence of stunting has been reported from Democratic Republic of Congo (prevalence was 61.0% among 197 primary school children aged 7-17 years) (4), Ethiopia (prevalence was 57% among 633 rural community 6-12 years old school age children) (15), and Ghana (prevalence was 50.3% among 650 school children) (16). However, lower prevalence of stunting has been reported from Sudan (prevalence was 22.1% among 2638 school children aged 5-15 years) (17), India (prevalence was 36.0% among 100 rural school children aged 6-14 years) (18), Sri Lanka (prevalence was 30.3% among 4484 school students aged 5-10 years) (19), Kenya (prevalence was 30.2% among 384 school children aged 6-12 years living in a low-income urban community) (20), China (prevalence was 11.7% among 1474 rural school children aged 5-12 years) (21), India (prevalence was 18.5% among urban school age children) (22), Pakistan (prevalence was 8.2% among 1860 urban primary school children aged 5-12 years) (23) and Sudan (prevalence was 7.1% among 835 primary school children aged 6-14 years) (24). These differences of prevalence observed during different countries (or different areas of the same country) could be due to differences in sample size, socioeconomic status, living condition, health policy, child feeding practices, school feeding programs, and child health care.…”

“…An Ethiopian study on 551 school age children reported that factors signi cantly associated with stunting were being male caregiver (AOR 4.26, 95% CI 1.3-14.5), family size ≥ 4 (AOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.9-11.7), and separated kitchen room (AOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.5) (2). A study conducted in Sudan among 2638 school children aged 5-15 years revealed that main factors associated with stunting were age group 13-15 years (OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.8-5.1), being boys (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), and children from rural areas (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.3) (17).…”

“…An Ethiopian study on 551 school age children reported that factors signi cantly associated with thinning were drinking coffee (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 2.0-5.2) and child dietary diversity score < 4 (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-8.9) (2). A study conducted in Sudan among 2638 school children aged 5-15 years showed that main factors associated with thinness in school children were being boy (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.1), Rural residence (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.4), child whose families depend on unsafe source of drinking water (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5-3.3), children who skipped meal during the school day (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.1-3.5), and children who bring their food from their houses, (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.1) (17).…”

Prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among primary school-aged children in Gudeya Bila district, West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…It is comparable with other studies conducted in Arba Minch 8.0%, 12 Gondar town northwest Ethiopia 9%, 6 South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia-6.3% 17 and Kallin District, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt 6.7%. 28 However, the finding of this study was lower than those of studies done in Mecha woreda, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia 10.8%, 23 Fogera and Libo Kemkem districts, northwest Ethiopia 21.4%, 7 Ethiopia 18.2%, 24 Dembia district, North West Ethiopia 13% 25 Nsukka, Nigeria 13.0%, 21 Kassala State, Sudan 32.3% 32 and Rural Madagascar 11.2%. 33 The possible reason for this might be seasonal variation and the variability of risk factors across different geographic settings.…”