An overview on acute malnutrition and food insecurity among children during the conflict in Yemen
Background: This study aims to describe malnutrition among children under five and to describe the food insecurity status during the current conflict in Yemen. Methods: Data were obtained from a Yemeni nutrition surveillance program (pilot phase) targeting 4142 households with 5276 children under fi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
5 June 2019
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| In: |
Children
Year: 2019, Volume: 6, Issue: 6, Pages: 1-8 |
| ISSN: | 2227-9067 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/children6060077 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3390/children6060077 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/6/6/77 
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| Author Notes: | Fekri Dureab, Eshraq Al-Falahi, Osan Ismail, Lina Al-Marhali, Ayoub Al Jawaldeh, Nazmun Nahar Nuri, Elvis Safary and Albrecht Jahn |
| Summary: | Background: This study aims to describe malnutrition among children under five and to describe the food insecurity status during the current conflict in Yemen. Methods: Data were obtained from a Yemeni nutrition surveillance program (pilot phase) targeting 4142 households with 5276 children under five from two governorates (Ibb and Sana’a). Results: Global acute malnutrition was found in 13.3% of overall screened children, while 4.9% had severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and 8.4% had moderate acute malnutrition. One-fifth of the children under six months of age were acutely malnourished, followed by children under two years at 18.5% based on weight-for-height z scores. Significant associations between malnutrition and other diseases included suspected measles at three times higher rates (4.5%, p < 0.00) among SAM cases than other children. Diarrhea, fever, and cough were significantly higher among the SAM group (p < 0.05). Most households depended on market food purchases in the month preceding this survey (84.7%). Household coping mechanisms to secure daily meals included borrowing food to survive, changing types and quality of food, and decreasing the number of meals per day; some families sent their children to live with relatives. Conclusion: Malnutrition is a serious public health problem. The humanitarian community needs to adopt alternative strategies to improve food security and the nutrition status in Yemen. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 23.10.2019 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2227-9067 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/children6060077 |