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. 2008 Mar 1;3(1):13-9.
doi: 10.4176/071006.

Nutritional status of under-five children in libya; a national population-based survey

El Taguri Adel  1 , Rolland-Cachera Marie-Françoise, M Mahmud Salaheddin, Elmrzougi Najeeb, Abdel Monem Ahmed, Betilmal Ibrahim, Lenoir Gerard
Affiliations

Nutritional status of under-five children in libya; a national population-based survey

El Taguri Adel et al. Libyan J Med. .

Abstract

Aim: To describe the nutritional status of children under-five years of age in Libya.

Population and methods: A secondary analysis of data of 5348 children taken from a national representative, two-stage, cluster-sample survey that was performed in 1995.

Results: Prevalence rates of underweight, wasting, stunting, and overweight were determined using standard definitions in reference to newly established WHO growth charts. The study revealed that 4.3% of children were underweight, 3.7% wasted, 20.7% stunted, and 16.2% overweight. Seventy percent of children had normal weight. Undernutrition was more likely to be found in males, in rural areas, and in underprivileged groups. Overweight was more likely found in urban, privileged groups. Wasting was more common in arid regions; stunting was more common in mountainous regions of Al-Akhdar, Al-Gharbi, and in Sirt. Al-Akhdar had the highest prevalence of overweight.

Conclusion: The country had a low prevalence of underweight and wasting, moderate prevalence of stunting, and high prevalence of overweight. The country is in the early stages of transition with evidence of dual-burden in some regions. Similar surveys are needed to verify secular trends of these nutritional problems, particularly overweight.

Keywords: Libya; nutritional status; overweight; preschool children; stunting; underweight; wasting.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportional distribution of single and combined forms of malnutrition among under-five children in Libya in 1995.
Figure 2a
Figure 2a
Comparison of the distribution of z-score for weight-for-age of Libyan under-five children to WHO child growth standards.
Figure 2b
Figure 2b
Comparison of the distribution of z-score for weight-for-length of Libyan under-five children to WHO child growth standards.
Figure 2c
Figure 2c
Comparison of the distribution of z-score of height-for-age of Libyan under-five children to WHO child growth standards.
Figure 2d
Figure 2d
Comparison of the distribution of z-score of BMI-for-age of Libyan under-five children to WHO child growth standards.
Figure 3a
Figure 3a
Mean and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) of height for age (H/A) z-scores in different regions.
Figure 3b
Figure 3b
Mean and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) of body mass index for age (BMI/A) z-scores in different regions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Changes in the prevalence of main forms of malnutrition with age.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Prevalence rates of different degrees of stunting according to age.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Gender differences in prevalence rates of stunting by age.
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