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Ejoh AR, Nwachan BM, Noumo NT. An assessment of the nutritional status of internally displaced school children in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. Food Sci Nutr 2024; 12:4086-4099. [PMID: 38873487 PMCID: PMC11167137 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge among children in developing countries, especially those experiencing civil wars and political unrest. It is imperative to ascertain the level of malnutrition, particularly in displaced children, to develop and effectively implement interventions. This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted to assess the nutritional status of 657 internally displaced school-aged children (5-15 years) enrolled in primary schools in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. The height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference of the children were measured using standard measurements. Clinical examinations were also made on the children. Other parameters that affect nutritional status, such as morbidity and health-seeking practices, were assessed using pre-tested, structured interviewer questionnaires. An analysis of the data revealed that stunting was the most prevalent form of malnutrition (27.1%), followed by wasting (23%), thinness (21.6%), and underweight (20.1%). About 44.5% of the children had low serum iron, and 35.7% of them had poor protein status. The prevalence of anemia was 30.0%. The most common signs of protein, vitamin A, and iron deficiencies observed were thin, dry, or sparse hair (5.2%), pallor (7.3%), and xerosis (3.3%), respectively. About 32% of the children had been sick within the previous month of the study, and the most common illness was the common cold (19.8%). Most of them (>60%) had good health-seeking practices. The high prevalence of stunting, wasting, thinness, underweight, anemia, protein, and iron deficiency calls for interventions such as nutrition education and supplementation to prevent malnutrition and diet-related diseases among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aba Richard Ejoh
- Nutrition, Food and Bioresource TechnologyUniversity of BamendaBamendaCameroon
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Talukdar R, Ravel V, Barman D, Kumar V, Dutta S, Kanungo S. Prevalence of undernutrition among migrant, refugee, internally displaced children and children of migrated parents in lower-middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of published studies from last twelve years. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2024; 18:102976. [PMID: 38508036 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.102976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS This review aims to estimate the prevalence of undernutrition among migrants, refugees, internally displaced children, and children of migrated parents living in lower-middle-income countries. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, Science-Direct, CINAHL-Plus, & Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed evidence published between January 2010 to March 2023. Two researchers independently examined the studies and retrieved the data. The internal and external validity of the studies was assessed using the NIH quality assessment tool, and a checklist adapted from Downs & Black, Bracht & Glass, and Del Siegle's guidelines. A random effect model was chosen to pool the estimates. Subgroup analysis, Meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were done to explore the source of heterogeneity and the robustness of estimates. RESULTS Among the 1978 records initially searched, 21 studies were selected for analysis. The pooled prevalence estimates for stunting, wasting, and underweight were estimated to be 29.39% (Confidence Interval [CI] 21.69-37.73; I2 99%; p < 0.01), 12.76% (CI 7.84-18.68; I2 99%; P < 0.01), and 24.05% (CI 16.17-32.94; I2 100%; p < 0.001) respectively. Among different WHO regions, all three undernutrition estimates were higher in LMICs belonging to the Southeast Asian region (Stunting 37.62%; wasting 14.28% and underweight 31.24%). Undernutrition among migrant Indian children was 43.55%, 18.71%, and 37.45% respectively. High heterogeneity was noted across all estimates with I2-value >90%. Sensitivity analysis across indicators showed the stability of our estimates. CONCLUSIONS The extent of undernutrition, particularly wasting was high among migrant/refugee children living in lower-middle-income countries. Measures should be taken to strengthen the government-subsidized public food distribution system, increase healthcare outreach, and ensure public health insurance coverage among the migrant population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rounik Talukdar
- ICMR - National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
| | - Vanessa Ravel
- ICMR - National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Diplina Barman
- ICMR - National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
| | - Vivek Kumar
- Deepak Foundation, Katni, Madhya Pradesh, India.
| | - Shanta Dutta
- ICMR - National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
| | - Suman Kanungo
- ICMR - National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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Choudhary P, Padhi BK, Mital AK, Gandhi AP, Mishra SK, Suri N, Baral SS, Satapathy P, Shamim MA, Thangavelu L, Rustagi S, Sah R, Khatib MN, Gaidhane S, Zahiruddin QS, Abd-Alrazaq A, Abu Serhan H. Prevalence of stunting among under-five children in refugee and internally displaced communities: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1278343. [PMID: 38094233 PMCID: PMC10716242 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1278343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A pooled estimate of stunting prevalence in refugee and internally displaced under-five children can help quantify the problem and focus on the nutritional needs of these marginalized groups. We aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of stunting in refugees and internally displaced under-five children from different parts of the globe. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, seven databases (Cochrane, EBSCOHost, EMBASE, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) along with "preprint servers" were searched systematically from the earliest available date to 14 February 2023. Refugee and internally displaced (IDP) under-five children were included, and study quality was assessed using "National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)" tools. Results A total of 776 abstracts (PubMed = 208, Scopus = 192, Cochrane = 1, Web of Science = 27, Embase = 8, EBSCOHost = 123, ProQuest = 5, Google Scholar = 209, and Preprints = 3) were retrieved, duplicates removed, and screened, among which 30 studies were found eligible for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The pooled prevalence of stunting was 26% [95% confidence interval (CI): 21-31]. Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 99%, p < 0.01). A subgroup analysis of the type of study subjects revealed a pooled stunting prevalence of 37% (95% CI: 23-53) in internally displaced populations and 22% (95% CI: 18-28) among refugee children. Based on geographical distribution, the stunting was 32% (95% CI: 24-40) in the African region, 34% (95% CI: 24-46) in the South-East Asian region, and 14% (95% CI: 11-19) in Eastern Mediterranean region. Conclusion The stunting rate is more in the internally displaced population than the refugee population and more in the South-East Asian and African regions. Our recommendation is to conduct further research to evaluate the determinants of undernutrition among under-five children of refugees and internally displaced populations from different regions so that international organizations and responsible stakeholders of that region can take effective remedial actions. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=387156, PROSPERO [CRD42023387156].
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Choudhary
- Department of Community Medicine, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Faridabad, India
| | - Bijaya K. Padhi
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Amit Kumar Mital
- Department of Paediatrics, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Faridabad, India
| | - Aravind P. Gandhi
- Department of Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, India
| | - Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra
- Department of Community Medicine, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR), Sambalpur, Odisha, India
| | - Neha Suri
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sudhansu Sekhar Baral
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Prakasini Satapathy
- School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, India
- Evidence Synthesis Lab, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Lakshmi Thangavelu
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Sarvesh Rustagi
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib
- Division of Evidence Synthesis, Global Consortium of Public Health and Research, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India
| | - Shilpa Gaidhane
- One Health Centre (COHERD), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India
| | - Quazi Syed Zahiruddin
- Global Health Academy, Division of Evidence Synthesis, School of Epidemiology and Public Health and Research, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, India
| | - Alaa Abd-Alrazaq
- AI Center for Precision Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
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