Stunting Status and Associated Risk Factors among Some Primary School Children in Sana'a City, Yemen
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58963/qausrj.v29i29.313Keywords:
Stunting , Child Nutrition , Risk Factors , Primary School , YemenAbstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of stunting among children aged 6 to 9 years attending private and government primary schools in Sana'a, Yemen. A total of 188 students were selected using a statistically representative sampling method. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire capturing demographic characteristics, along with anthropometric measurements focusing on height-for-age as an indicator of stunting. The results revealed that 43.6% of the children were stunted, indicating a high prevalence of chronic undernutrition, while 56.4% had normal height-for-age. Analysis showed no statistically significant associations between stunting and variables such as gender, school level, parental education, parental occupation, maternal smoking, or maternal khat chewing. These findings suggest that stunting remains a serious nutritional concern among school-aged children in Sana’a and may be driven by broader socioeconomic or environmental factors. Targeted interventions and comprehensive nutrition programs are urgently needed to address this issue.
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