Risk Factors of Malnutrition of Early Childhood in Mosul City

Abstract

Background:

Manutrition occurs when a human gets too few or too many nutrients, re ulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients”, malnutrition in resource-limited settings is primary malnutrition that results from inadequate food supply caused by socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors. However, secondary malnutrition due to chronic diseases can also exist concurrently in these.

Aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors associated with malnutrition in children under the age of 3 years.

Subject and method the study started from 2 February 2023 to 71 April 2023. Surveys were conducted among the population of Nineveh governorate over a period of 10 days, using Google forms that were published and distributed using social media, a forms were distributed among mothers of children in Mosul city As well as we distributed the forms to the mothers of the children’s in hospitals under 3 years old in AL Salam teaching hospital - Mosul general hospital - Qayyarah hospital - Ibn sena hospital After the surveys were conducted we management to collect a total of (90) sample and there is 30 cases and 60 controls.

Results Relationship between malnutrition and residence and p value was 0.749 is (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the economic and social condition of the family p value: 0.635 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the smoking of the parent p value: 0.284 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the level of mother learning p value: 0.812 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the age of marriage for the mother p value:  0.004 (highly significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the number of mother’s child’s p value:0.435 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the period between one pregnancy and another p value:  0.569 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and the sex of child p value:  0.546 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and bottle-feeding p value:  0.609 (not significant). Relationship between malnutrition and mixed feeding p value:  0.815 (not significant).

Conclusion Our findings revealed did not establish a significant association between malnutrition and various factors, including the resident, economic and social condition of the family, smoking of the parents, level of mother learning, number of mother’s child’s > 4, the period between one pregnancy and another, type of feeding. It is expected that the reason is the small sample of the group that was collected and also may vary across different cultures due to various factors such as cultural norms, dietary habits, and access to healthcare. while relationship between malnutrition and the age of marriage for the mother is highly significant (p: 0.004) this may be attributed to the mother’s marriage at a young age, with a weak body structure that cannot bear carrying a healthy fetus, with the mother’s lack of experience in dealing with her child and taking adequate care of him.