Author(s): Riyadh Shiltagh Al-Rudaini, Mohsin Ahmed Jasim, Bashar A Abdul Razzaq, Zainab Ghassan Lutfi and Ali Taha Mohammed

Abstract:

Background: Childhood malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge in Iraq, with limited comprehensive data on prevalence and determinants across the country. This study aimed to assess the nationwide prevalence and determinants of malnutrition among children under five years attending primary healthcare centers in Iraq, providing essential evidence for targeted interventions and policy development.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed malnutrition among Iraqi children under five at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) nationwide (excluding the Kurdistan Region) between December 2024 and April 2025. A multistage stratified random sampling selected PHCs and recruited 5,120 eligible children. Data collection included standardized questionnaires covering demographics, health, feeding practices, and maternal knowledge, plus anthropometric measurements following WHO protocols. Quality control ensured accuracy and reliability. Analyses used SPSS for descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate assessments of malnutrition prevalence and predictors. Ethical approval was secured, and informed consent obtained, with strict confidentiality and data protection measures maintained throughout the study.

Results: The study analyzed 5,121 under-five children across Iraq, revealing significant geographic and socio-demographic variation in nutrition status and risk factors. Nearly half had normal nutrition, while 18.8% were stunted, 9.3% underweight, 4.8% wasted, and 12.5% overweight, showing a dual burden. Key predictors included low birth weight, peripheral residence, low maternal education, incomplete vaccination, and poor vitamin A coverage. Early breastfeeding cessation and gaps in Vitamin A and D supplementation were notable. Regional disparities in malnutrition and service availability underscore the need for targeted, governorate-specific interventions to address underlying socioeconomic and healthcare access barriers and to improve child nutrition outcomes.

Conclusion: This study highlights Iraq’s complex child malnutrition landscape, revealing undernutrition and rising overweight trends with regional and socioeconomic disparities. It calls for urgent, governorate-specific interventions to strengthen maternal and child health services, improve feeding practices, expand vaccination and education, and implement multi-sectoral policies to reduce malnutrition sustainably.

Pages: 75-84  |  2355 Views  65 Downloads