Assessment of Stunting and Its Associated Factors in Children Under 2 Years of Age in Tehsil Umerkot: Stunting in Umerkot Children Under 2 Years

Shahzad Farid Khan; Ume Sughra; Marriam Suleman; Najm Us Sabah

doi:10.54393/df.v6i1.155

Authors

Shahzad Farid Khan Department of Public Health, Al-Shifa School of Public Health, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Ume Sughra Department of Public Health, Al-Shifa School of Public Health, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Marriam Suleman Department of Public Health, Al-Shifa School of Public Health, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Najm Us Sabah Department of Public Health, Al-Shifa School of Public Health, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/df.v6i1.155

Keywords:

Stunting, Child Nutrition, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Anthropometric Assessment

Abstract

Stunting, a key indicator of chronic undernutrition, remains a critical public health challenge in Tehsil Umerkot, Pakistan, reflecting underlying socioeconomic and nutritional deficits. Objective: To find stunting in children under 2 years old and its association with sociodemographic variables in Tehsil Umerkot Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at urban Tehsil Umerkot, Pakistan. A total of 385 respondents were selected from 4 different public healthcare facilities of District Umerkot, through a simple random sampling technique. SPSS version 26.0 was utilized for data entry and analysis. An anthropometric assessment was carried out for the children and height for age was calculated. All children with a z-score below -2 S.D of WHO standards were considered stunted. Pearson Chi-Square was used to investigate the variables linked with stunting. Results: Among the 385 respondents, the majority of the children were female (n= 202, 53%). Mothers of the majority of the children were illiterate (n= 293, 76%). It was found that the majority of the children were stunted (n=360, 96%) out of which 8% (n=30) were severely stunted. Breastfeeding, duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and fruit and vegetable consumption were found statistically significant with stunting (p value<0.05). Conclusions: The majority of the children under 2 years of age in Umerkot were stunted. Various factors were identified that play a protective role against stunting among them exclusive breastfeeding, and fruit and vegetable consumption were important. Routine nutritional assessment and interventions are needed to prevent stunting in Pakistan.

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