Assessment of Nutritional Status among Children Aged 1–under 5 years old in Aswan city, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition remains a significant public health issue in Egypt, affecting children under-five. This study assesses the nutritional status of children aged 12 to 59 months in Aswan City using WHO growth standards. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,104 children aged 12–59 months. Anthropometric measurements were collected, and Z-scores for weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), BMI-for-age (BAZ), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUACZ) were calculated based on WHO 2007 growth standards. Results: The mean Z-scores for WAZ and HAZ were negative across both sexes, indicating mild undernutrition, with males showing slightly lower values than females. WHZ and BAZ scores were comparable. MUACZ scores also indicated undernutrition in both sexes, with no statistically significant differences between them (P > 0.05). The prevalence of malnutrition among children was 11.5% for stunting, 8.1% for wasting, 4.3% for underweight, and 8.2% for low MUACZ scores. Overnutrition, including overweight and obesity, was observed in 11.3% of children. Overall, 24.1% (266 children) experienced undernutrition, with a 25% overlap among undernutrition categories, while 11.3% (125 children) were overnourished. Conclusion: The findings indicate a dual burden of malnutrition, with both undernutrition and overnutrition present among children under-five in Aswan City. Public health interventions should focus on addressing stunting and wasting while preventing overweight and obesity.