Stunting among Children Attending a Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic in Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a considerable problem in developing countries, contributing to increasing under-five mortality, while children of stunted mothers have a higher risk of stunting. Objective: to determine the prevalence and risk factors of stunting among children aged 1-12 years attending the outpatient Paediatrics clinic of Al-Azhar University Hospital (Al-Hussein), Cairo. Participants and methods: the anthropometric measurements of 800 children aged 1-12 years with no history of chronic diseases attending the paediatrics outpatient clinic of Al-Hussein Hospital were recruited and a short questionnaire was administered. Results: the prevalence of stunting was 15.8% with no sex variation. Stunting was found to be associated with parental consanguinity, mother's employment status, and a family history of short stature. Conclusion: there is considerable stunting prevalence rate among this study group. The public should be educated about the importance of avoiding consanguineous marriage. It is important to reduce stunting, especially among girls, to prevent their children from in turn being stunted.