Systematic Reviews · 5 authors, 3 centres
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This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 12 studies to estimate the prevalence of childhood undernutrition in armed conflict-affected African countries. It found high pooled prevalences of wasting, stunting, and being underweight, with significant associated factors including low maternal education and prolonged conflict duration.
This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies from 10 African countries. It aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of childhood undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight) in children aged 6–59 months living in conflict-affected areas. The analysis used a random-effects model. The pooled prevalence was 20.25% for wasting, 34.18% for stunting, and 24.00% for being underweight. Subgroup analysis showed the highest prevalence of wasting in Central Africa. Factors significantly associated with undernutrition included low mother's education, rural residence, and prolonged duration of armed conflict. The authors note the limitation of a small number of included studies. The findings highlight the severe burden of malnutrition in conflict zones and suggest implications for humanitarian planning.
