Risk factors associated with underweight in children aged one to two years: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Background Underweight is a prevalent health issue in children. This study aimed to identify factors associated with underweight in children aged 1–2 years in Hamadan city. Unlike the studies conducted in this field, which are cross-sectional and do not provide information on the effect of age changes on underweight, our longitudinal approach provides insights into weight changes over time. On the other hand, this study focuses on the high-risk age group of 1 to 2 years, which has only been addressed in a few studies. Methods In this longitudinal study, 414 mothers with 1 to 2 year-old children referred to the health centers of Hamadan city, whose information is in the SIB system, a comprehensive electronic system, were examined to identify factors related to underweight. The response variable was weight-for-age criteria classified into three categories: underweight, normal weight, and overweight. A two-level longitudinal ordinal model was used to determine the factors associated with underweight. Results Of the children studied, 201 (48.6%) were girls and 213 (51.4%) were boys. Significant risk factors for underweight included low maternal education (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.10–11.47), maternal unemployment (AOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.05–10.91), maternal height (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.79–0.92), lack of health insurance (AOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.04–7.84), gestational age less than 24 years (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 16.28–0.97), child age 12–15 months (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.37–3.74), and child's birth weight (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.70–0.58). Conclusion Based on the results of the present study, it seems that the possibility of being underweight among children is more related to the characteristics of mothers; therefore, taking care of mothers can control some of the weight loss of children.