Clin Nutr Res.  2019 Apr;8(2):101-118. 10.7762/cnr.2019.8.2.101.

An Investigation of the Prevalence and Causes of Malnutrition in Iran: a Review Article and Meta-analysis

• Motedayen
• Dousti M
• Sayehmiri
• Pourmahmoudi AA

• KMID: 2444227
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2019.8.2.101

Abstract

Malnutrition is one of the most important health issues in developing countries, which might have adverse effects on the physical and intellectual health of children. The search process was started to find Persian and English articles published until September 2017 regarding the prevalence of malnutrition in children under the age of six in Iran using national and international databases including SID, Magiran, Irandoc, IranMedex, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science. The data were analyzed using meta-analysis methods and the random effects model. The heterogeneity of studies was analyzed using the I² index. The data were analyzed using R and STATA software (ver. 11.2). Twenty seven articles conducted from 2002 to 2016 were collected to be included in the meta-analysis process. The total sample size was 161,941 patients in an age range of 0-6 years. The final estimate of the prevalence of different forms of malnutrition through meta-analysis of data extracted from studies in Iran was as follows: severe underweight (1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1-1), moderate underweight (6%; 95% CI, 5-7), mild underweight (25%; 95% CI, 21-28), severe short stature (3%; 95% CI, 2-3), moderate short stature (8%; 95% CI, 6-9), mild short stature (21%; 95% CI, 17-24), severe slimness (1%; 95% CI, 1-1), moderate slimness (5%; 95% CI, 4-5) and mild slimness (20%; 95% CI, 17-24). Considering that the prevalence of malnutrition is relatively high in Iran, health authorities should plan to improve the nutritional status of children.

Keyword

Malnutrition; Underweight; Stunting; Weight Loss; Iran

MeSH Terms

Child
Child Nutrition Disorders
Developing Countries
Growth Disorders
Humans
Iran*
Malnutrition*
Nutritional Status
Population Characteristics
Prevalence*
Sample Size
Sudden Infant Death
Thinness
Weight Loss

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Flowchart for the inclusion of articles in the systematic review and meta-analysis.

• 

  Figure 2 Prevalence severe underweight based on the random effects model. The midpoint of each section of the line estimates the prevalence and the length of the segment, the 95% CI in each study, and the diarrhea sign, indicates the prevalence the country for the all study. ES, effect size; CI, confidence interval.

• 

  Figure 3 Prevalence severe stunting based on the random effects model. The midpoint of each section of the line estimates the prevalence and the length of the segment, the 95% CI in each study, and the diarrhea sign, indicates the prevalence the country for the all study. ES, effect size; CI, confidence interval.

• 

  Figure 4 Prevalence severe wasting based on the random effects model. The midpoint of each section of the line estimates the prevalence and the length of the segment, the 95% CI in each study, and the diarrhea sign, indicates the prevalence the country for the all study. ES, effect size; CI, confidence interval.

• 

  Figure 5 Malnutrition prevalence according to the sample size.

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  Figure 6 Malnutrition prevalence according to the year of study.

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  Figure 7 Begg's funnel plot for publication bias. SE, standard error; pb, publication bias.

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