Exploring Malnutrition Risk among Infants under Five Years in Guéra Province, Chad: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition, a serious public health concern, is influenced by various factors. Objective : The study aims to explore malnutrition issues among infants under five years old in Guéra Province. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design and a two-stage cluster sampling method to select participants. The study population was infants aged between 0 - 24 months. Data collection was done between June 2023 and September 2024; it included anthropometric measurements, blood analyses, and interviews. Anthropometric parameters were calculated using ENA for SMART software. Statistical analyses were performed by R Studio to investigate associations between different characteristics, using logistic regression models to identify risk factors. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study included 377 infants in eight villages in Guéra Province, Chad. The sample was predominantly girls (55.3%), with a median age of 16 months. Most infants (94%) were mixed-fed, and only 6% were exclusively breastfed. We found that 7.3% of children were globally malnourished, with higher rates in boys 9.6%. A significant disparity existed between boys and girls in global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates, with boys having a higher prevalence of 17.9%. A substantial proportion of Infants were underweight, with males 27.4%. Stunting was prevalent 20.1%. Several factors were associated with malnutrition, including gender, feeding practices, infectious diseases, and socioeconomic factors. Diarrhea, malaria, limited access to drinking water, and early diet diversification were significantly associated with malnutrition. Conclusion: Targeted interventions are necessary to address these issues and improve the nutritional status of children in the Guéra province.