Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Background Undernutrition remains a major public health issue in low- and middle-income countries. Objective Our aim for this study was to identify the factors contributing to undernutrition in children under five years old in North Africa. Methods We searched five electronic bibliographic databases...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2023.2240158 |
| _version_ | 1797351869564059648 |
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| author | Nagwa Farag Elmighrabi Catharine A.K. Fleming Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami Kingsley E. Agho |
| author_facet | Nagwa Farag Elmighrabi Catharine A.K. Fleming Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami Kingsley E. Agho |
| author_sort | Nagwa Farag Elmighrabi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Undernutrition remains a major public health issue in low- and middle-income countries. Objective Our aim for this study was to identify the factors contributing to undernutrition in children under five years old in North Africa. Methods We searched five electronic bibliographic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase (Ovid), ProQuest, and CINAHL) for eligible observational studies published after 2006. STATA version 17 software was used to calculate the odds ratios between associated factors and indicators of undernutrition, with 95% confidence intervals. For each factor, the overall odds were pooled using a forest plot. Due to the significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 > 50%), a random-effects model was used, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the effect of outliers. Results Out of 1093 initially identified studies, 14 met the selection criteria. Our meta-analysis revealed that uneducated mothers were the most common factor associated with undernutrition in North African children. Children aged 0–23 months were significantly associated with stunting (odds ratios (OR) = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.18; 1.37) and wasting (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.42; 1.99). Children living in rural areas were also at higher odds of being stunted (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.64; 1.84) and underweight (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.35; 1.88). These analyses also indicated that a lower wealth index, mothers’ nutritional health, uneducated fathers, and low birth weight were other factors significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion Addressing undernutrition in Northern Africa requires a multidisciplinary approach prioritising mothers and young children, especially families in underprivileged areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:06:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03e189f730024c6db0e950277f243d85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:06:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-03e189f730024c6db0e950277f243d852024-01-18T15:58:24ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802023-12-0116110.1080/16549716.2023.22401582240158Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studiesNagwa Farag Elmighrabi0Catharine A.K. Fleming1Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami2Kingsley E. Agho3Western Sydney UniversityWestern Sydney UniversityWestern Sydney UniversityWestern Sydney UniversityBackground Undernutrition remains a major public health issue in low- and middle-income countries. Objective Our aim for this study was to identify the factors contributing to undernutrition in children under five years old in North Africa. Methods We searched five electronic bibliographic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase (Ovid), ProQuest, and CINAHL) for eligible observational studies published after 2006. STATA version 17 software was used to calculate the odds ratios between associated factors and indicators of undernutrition, with 95% confidence intervals. For each factor, the overall odds were pooled using a forest plot. Due to the significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 > 50%), a random-effects model was used, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the effect of outliers. Results Out of 1093 initially identified studies, 14 met the selection criteria. Our meta-analysis revealed that uneducated mothers were the most common factor associated with undernutrition in North African children. Children aged 0–23 months were significantly associated with stunting (odds ratios (OR) = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.18; 1.37) and wasting (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.42; 1.99). Children living in rural areas were also at higher odds of being stunted (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.64; 1.84) and underweight (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.35; 1.88). These analyses also indicated that a lower wealth index, mothers’ nutritional health, uneducated fathers, and low birth weight were other factors significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion Addressing undernutrition in Northern Africa requires a multidisciplinary approach prioritising mothers and young children, especially families in underprivileged areas.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2023.2240158stuntingwastingunderweightdeterminantsunder five years |
| spellingShingle | Nagwa Farag Elmighrabi Catharine A.K. Fleming Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami Kingsley E. Agho Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies Global Health Action stunting wasting underweight determinants under five years |
| title | Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies |
| title_full | Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies |
| title_fullStr | Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies |
| title_short | Childhood undernutrition in North Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies |
| title_sort | childhood undernutrition in north africa systematic review and meta analysis of observational studies |
| topic | stunting wasting underweight determinants under five years |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2023.2240158 |
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