Acute malnutrition in infants aged 1 to 6 months in Libreville: a multicenter study

Abstract

Introduction: The nutritional status of infants aged 1 to 6 months has been little studied in our countries. Child malnutrition remains a major public health problem worldwide. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of infants aged 1 to 6 months in Libreville. Method: A multicentre, observational, prospective study with descriptive and analytical objectives, conducted over a four-month period. It involved healthy, full-term infants aged between 1 and 6 months. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with malnutrition. Results: A total of 441 infants were registered. The average age was 3.06 months and the sex ratio was 0.93 in favour of females. Malnutrition was 13.8% (n=61), comprising 12 cases of moderate acute malnutrition (2.7%) and three (3) cases of severe acute malnutrition (0.7%). The risk of malnutrition was present in 10.2% (n=45) of infants. Overweight and obesity were found in 13.8% (n=61). Factors associated with the occurrence of malnutrition were the mother's level of education (p=0.002) and dietary errors (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition among infants aged 1 to 6 months is significant in our context. Poor dietary habits are a risk factor for malnutrition in this age group. Promoting breastfeeding is therefore a key strategy for combating this condition.