Anam Afzal, Nazia Malik, Zahira Batool, Muhammad Shabbir Ch.
Determinants of Stunting among under Five Children in Pakistan: a Cross Sectional Study.
Pak Paed J Jan ;45(3):327-31.

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of children height-for-age (HAZ) and to determine multilevel risk factors contributing to stunting burden among children under five years. Study Design: Community-based cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in four rural towns of Faisalabad district from July 2018 to February 2019. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 children under five years of age were selected purposively. Anthropometric measurements were taken to access the malnutrition (stunting) in children. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 23.0. Univariate and bivariate analysis was used to check the correlation between dependent and independent variables. Results: Overall, 42.4% of children were stunted (< -2 SD). Females were more stunted 48.7% than males 36.5%. Mothers` current age (26-30), higher number of children under five years, low birth interval (months), small birth size, household food insecurity, hand wash practice without soap, use of bottle to feed a child and not feeding colostrum to the child were factors significantly associated at (p<0.000) with stunting. Conclusion: Prevalence of stunting is very high in Faisalabad. It might be reduced if stunting integrated interventions will be improved and implemented at household and personal (child) level.

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