Malnutrition in infants aged under 6 months: prevalence and anthropometric assessment - analysis of 56 low- and middle-income country DHS datasets.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Tackling malnutrition in infants aged under 6 months (u6m) is a major global priority yet evidence around this vulnerable group is weak. We aimed to support the rollout of new 2023 WHO guidelines by examining the burden of infant malnutrition and potential programme caseloads with new enrolment criteria.

Methods

Secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) datasets. We calculated the number of underweight (low weight-for-age), wasting (low weight-for-length), stunting (low length-for-age) and low birth weight (LBW) infants. We assessed data quality by recording extreme or missing values. We calculated the population-weighted prevalence of anthropometric deficit and extrapolated to all low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We regressed being unde

SUBMITTER: Kerac M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12142141 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature