The Analysis of Trends of Preschool Child Stunting, Wasting and Overweight in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Still More Effort Needed to Reach Global Targets 2025

Abstract

Background This study was undertaken to analyze and compare Eastern Mediterranean (EM) countries in achievement of WHO nutrition global targets for children growth indicators by 2025. Methods A total of 108 national surveys from 20 countries in EM region were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of stunting and wasting and 93 surveys to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children. These data were obtained from national surveys included in the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Results In EM region, the prevalence of childhood stunting was estimated to have a 38% decline from 2000 (34.7%) to 2025 (21.2%). Only three countries in EM region (Iran and Jordan, Saudi Arabia) were anticipated to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. From 2000 to 2020, the prevalence of wasting decreased from 6.9 to 5.3. Six countries were presumed to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. Nine countries will presumably have overweight rates >5% (Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia) in 2025 whereas five countries will have overweight rates above 10% (Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia). Conclusion Despite descending trends of child stunting and wasting and a secular trend of child obesity in EM region, it is expected that WHO targets will not be achieved by 2025. A diverse socio-economic condition in EM countries necessitates different action plans. International determination, political commitment and, above all, involvement of the families are needed to achieve 2025 targets for child stunting, wasting and overweight/obesity.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of childhood undernutrition in North Africa

“…As shown in Table 1 , all 27 studies included in this review were cross-sectional surveys. Eighteen of these studies were investigated in Egypt [ 30 – 47 ], and 10 studies explored the problem in Sudan [ 32 , 35 , 38 , 42 , 48 – 53 ]. In addition, 6 studies assessed prevalence of undernutrition in Morocco [ 32 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 54 , 55 ]; 4 studies assessed prevalence of undernutrition in Libya [ 32 , 38 , 55 , 56 ], 3 studies demonstrated prevalence of undernutrition in Tunisia [ 32 , 35 , 38 ], and 1 study investigated in Algeria [ 35 ].…”

“…Eighteen of these studies were investigated in Egypt [ 30 – 47 ], and 10 studies explored the problem in Sudan [ 32 , 35 , 38 , 42 , 48 – 53 ]. In addition, 6 studies assessed prevalence of undernutrition in Morocco [ 32 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 54 , 55 ]; 4 studies assessed prevalence of undernutrition in Libya [ 32 , 38 , 55 , 56 ], 3 studies demonstrated prevalence of undernutrition in Tunisia [ 32 , 35 , 38 ], and 1 study investigated in Algeria [ 35 ]. Six studies were conducted on children aged 6 to 60 months [ 30 , 35 , 40 , 47 , 48 , 51 ], 2 studies investigated children aged 6–24 months [ 41 , 42 ] and only 1 study investigated children from 0–6 months [ 36 ] and the remaining studies focused on children aged 0–60 months [ 31 – 34 , 37 – 39 , 43 – 47 , 49 , 50 , 52 – 56 ].…”

“…Among the nine JBI criteria used to assess the quality of the studies, 18 (66.7%) articles scored seven points or higher [ 30 , 31 , 33 – 36 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 44 – 46 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 56 ], while 9 (33.3%) papers scored medium between 4 and 6 [ 32 , 37 , 38 , 41 , 43 , 47 , 48 , 52 , 54 ] as seen in S3 Table .…”