Profile of Children with Undernutrition Admitted in Two Secondary-Level Hospitals in Maputo City, Mozambique

• Published in: Nutrients 2024-04, Vol.16 (7), p.1056
• Main Authors: Cossa-Moiane, Idalécia, Roucher, Clémentine, Campos-Ponce, Maiza, Doak, Colleen, Bauhofer, Adilson, Chissaque, Assucênio, Prista, António, de Deus, Nilsa, Polman, Katja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age; Analysis; anthropometry; Body mass index; Child; Child, Preschool; children; Children & youth; double burden of malnutrition; Edema; Epidemiology; Female; HIV; Hospitals; Households; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunization; Infant; Informed consent; intestinal parasites; Male; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Mozambique - epidemiology; Nutritional status; Obesity; Overweight; Pediatrics; Public health; risk factors; Software; Standard scores; undernutrition
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16071056

Mozambique has one of the highest child undernutrition rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of children from 1 to 14 years old hospitalized for undernutrition and to explore associated risk factors. Clinical, demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental data were collected. Anthropometric measurements and stool samples were collected from a child and their caretaker. The wealth index was determined using Principal Components Analysis. A total of 449 children and their caretakers were enrolled. The children had a median age of 1.0 year [IQR: 1.0-2.0], and 53.9% (242/449) were male. Most were admitted with severe undernutrition (35.7%, 159/449 kwashiorkor and 82.0%, 368/449 with -3SD Z-score indexes). The most common co-morbidities were HIV (30.0%, 120/400), diarrhea (20.0%; 80/400), and anemia (12.5%; 50/400). Among the caretakers, 9.5% (39/409) were underweight, 10.1% (40/397) were overweight, and 14.1% (56/397) were obese. Intestinal parasites were found in 24.8% (90/363) children and in 38.5% (77/200) caretakers. The majority of children (60.7%, 85/140) came from low- to middle-wealth households. Most were severely undernourished, suggesting that they seek medical care too late. The finding of overweight/obese caretakers in combination with undernourished children confirms that Mozambique is facing a double burden of malnutrition.