Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Stunting continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries. It is one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and mortality during childhood. In Palestine, it is another health problem, which adds to the catastrophic issues in the region. This study a...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2017-12-01
|
Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0957-y |
id |
doaj-f9bd355d9a1742679406aae1846d5751 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-f9bd355d9a1742679406aae1846d57512020-11-24T23:28:18ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312017-12-011711710.1186/s12887-017-0957-yPrevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional studyRima Rafiq El Kishawi0Kah Leng Soo1Yehia Awad Abed2Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda3School of Public Health, Al Quds UniversityProgram of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains MalaysiaSchool of Public Health, Al Quds UniversityProgram of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains MalaysiaAbstract Background Stunting continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries. It is one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and mortality during childhood. In Palestine, it is another health problem, which adds to the catastrophic issues in the region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stunting and its associated factors among preschool children in the Gaza Strip. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Gaza Strip. A total of 357 children aged 2–5 years and their mothers aged 18–50 years were recruited. A multistage cluster sampling was used in the selection of the study participants from three geographical areas in the Gaza Strip: Jabalia refugee camp, El Remal urban area, and Al Qarara rural area. A structured questionnaire was used for face- to -face interviews with the respective child’s mother to collect sociodemographic information and feeding practice. Anthropometric measurements for children were taken to classify height-for-age (HAZ), while maternal height was measured as well. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were applied to determine the prevalence and associated factors with stunting. Results The total prevalence of stunting in this study was 19.6%, with the highest prevalence being (22.6%) in Jabalia refugee camp. It turns out that shorter mothers had increased the odds of stunting in preschool children in the Gaza Strip. Children born to mothers whose height was 1.55–1.60 m or <1.55 m were more likely to be stunted (p = 0. 008), or (p < 0.001), respectively, than children born to mothers whose height was >1.60 m. Moreover, parental consanguinity increased the risk of stunted children (p = 0. 015). Conclusions This study showed the prevalence of stunting was of alarming magnitude in the Gaza Strip. Our results also demonstrated that parental consanguinity and short maternal stature were associated with stunting. Culturally appropriate interventions and appropriate strategies should be implemented to discourage these types of marriages. Policy makers must also raise awareness of the importance of the prevention and control of nutritional problems to combat stunting among children in the Gaza Strip.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0957-yStuntingPrevalenceAssociated factorsGaza strip |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rima Rafiq El Kishawi Kah Leng Soo Yehia Awad Abed Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda |
spellingShingle |
Rima Rafiq El Kishawi Kah Leng Soo Yehia Awad Abed Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study BMC Pediatrics Stunting Prevalence Associated factors Gaza strip |
author_facet |
Rima Rafiq El Kishawi Kah Leng Soo Yehia Awad Abed Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda |
author_sort |
Rima Rafiq El Kishawi |
title |
Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study |
title_short |
Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study |
title_full |
Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study |
title_fullStr |
Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study |
title_sort |
prevalence and associated factors influencing stunting in children aged 2–5 years in the gaza strip-palestine: a cross-sectional study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Pediatrics |
issn |
1471-2431 |
publishDate |
2017-12-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Stunting continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries. It is one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and mortality during childhood. In Palestine, it is another health problem, which adds to the catastrophic issues in the region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stunting and its associated factors among preschool children in the Gaza Strip. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Gaza Strip. A total of 357 children aged 2–5 years and their mothers aged 18–50 years were recruited. A multistage cluster sampling was used in the selection of the study participants from three geographical areas in the Gaza Strip: Jabalia refugee camp, El Remal urban area, and Al Qarara rural area. A structured questionnaire was used for face- to -face interviews with the respective child’s mother to collect sociodemographic information and feeding practice. Anthropometric measurements for children were taken to classify height-for-age (HAZ), while maternal height was measured as well. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were applied to determine the prevalence and associated factors with stunting. Results The total prevalence of stunting in this study was 19.6%, with the highest prevalence being (22.6%) in Jabalia refugee camp. It turns out that shorter mothers had increased the odds of stunting in preschool children in the Gaza Strip. Children born to mothers whose height was 1.55–1.60 m or <1.55 m were more likely to be stunted (p = 0. 008), or (p < 0.001), respectively, than children born to mothers whose height was >1.60 m. Moreover, parental consanguinity increased the risk of stunted children (p = 0. 015). Conclusions This study showed the prevalence of stunting was of alarming magnitude in the Gaza Strip. Our results also demonstrated that parental consanguinity and short maternal stature were associated with stunting. Culturally appropriate interventions and appropriate strategies should be implemented to discourage these types of marriages. Policy makers must also raise awareness of the importance of the prevention and control of nutritional problems to combat stunting among children in the Gaza Strip. |
topic |
Stunting Prevalence Associated factors Gaza strip |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0957-y |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT rimarafiqelkishawi prevalenceandassociatedfactorsinfluencingstuntinginchildrenaged25yearsinthegazastrippalestineacrosssectionalstudy AT kahlengsoo prevalenceandassociatedfactorsinfluencingstuntinginchildrenaged25yearsinthegazastrippalestineacrosssectionalstudy AT yehiaawadabed prevalenceandassociatedfactorsinfluencingstuntinginchildrenaged25yearsinthegazastrippalestineacrosssectionalstudy AT wanabdulmananwanmuda prevalenceandassociatedfactorsinfluencingstuntinginchildrenaged25yearsinthegazastrippalestineacrosssectionalstudy |
_version_ |
1725549942912581632 |