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Birth interval and birth order relationship with undernutrition among children under-five: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

Birth interval and birth order relationship with undernutrition among children under-five: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Rameeza Kaleem Associate Professor, Fatima Jinnah Medical University / Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Adnan Research Officer, Health Research Institute, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7255-9450
  • Asma Anwar Associate Professor, Fatima Jinnah Medical University/ Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Maryam Maqsood Nutritionist, The University of Lahore, Raiwind Road, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37018/JFJMU/RAM/3568

Keywords:

Nutritional status, birth order, birth spacing, children under 5 years

Abstract

Background: Birth spacing and birth order are significant factors affecting child health and nutritional status but it is often overlooked when dealing with child undernutrition. There remains a need to consider the modifiable risk factors for undernutrition among children. Therefore, this study aimed to find the relationship of preceding birth interval and birth order with undernutrition among children under five years of age.

Subjects and methods: The cross-sectional analytical study included 133 pairs of mothers and children who attended Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from July to September 2023. Interviewer administered close-ended questionnaire used to collect data (characteristics of index children and their mothers). Children were categorized into well-nourished and undernourished (wasted, stunted or underweight) using the WHO standards for child growth. Crosstabs and binary logistic regression analysis were done to find the relationship between preceding birth interval, birth order and nutritional status.

Results: With 67 (50.4%) boys and 66 (49.6%) girls, the mean age of children was 17.9±12.7 (range 6-59 months). Among 94 (70.7%) undernourished children, 80(85.1%) had all three indicators of undernutrition (wasting, stunting, and underweight). Birth order of the index child, age of child, family income and mother’s BMI showed significant association with childhood undernutrition (all p-values ≤0.05). Whereas preceding birth interval, contraception knowledge and practices were not related to childhood undernutrition (all p-values >0.05).

Conclusion: The child’s birth order, age, family income, and maternal BMI showed significant association and greater risk of undernutrition; however preceding birth interval was not related with undernutrition among children under five. Limiting the number of births and improving maternal health and nutrition may reduce child malnutrition.

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Published

2024-03-10

How to Cite

1.
Kaleem R, Adnan M, Anwar A, Maqsood M. Birth interval and birth order relationship with undernutrition among children under-five: A hospital-based cross-sectional study. J Fatima Jinnah Med Univ [Internet]. 2024 Mar. 10 [cited 2024 Nov. 7];17(4):137-42. Available from: http://jfjmu.com/index.php/ojs/article/view/1130