Issue Date
2025
Abstract
Concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) is a severe form of child undernutrition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While maternal nutritional status independently influences wasting and stunting, its role in their co-occurrence among children remains insufficiently explored. This systematic review aimed to examine associations between WaSt and maternal nutritional status and related determinants, as well how WaSt is defined, measured, and reported. It was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024493969). Structured searches in Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were conducted up to 4 December 2023. Eligible studies that is, involved mothers and children aged 0–59 months, described WaSt or double burden of malnutrition (DBM) typologies, and reported maternal nutritional determinants were assessed independently by two reviewers. Data were extracted using a standardized template and synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity among the identified studies. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Appraisal tool for Cross-sectional Studies. Twelve cross-sectional studies from Asia and Africa met the inclusion criteria. However, only three studies explicitly used the term “concurrent wasting and stunting”. Most studies, on the other hand, operationalized it within a broader DBM framework, with the prevalence estimates ranging from 2.8% to 5.2%. Maternal undernutrition, particularly low body mass index and short stature, was consistently associated with WaSt, alongside maternal educational attainment, age, mode of delivery, parity, and employment status. Methodological inconsistencies across studies limited comparability and likely contributed to the underestimation of the true burden of concurrent wasting and stunting. The study findings highlight the need for standardized definitions and measurement of WaSt. Policy and programmatic efforts should prioritize maternal nutritional interventions to prevent intergenerational and compounded forms of undernutrition This research received no external funding.
Source or Periodical Title
UP Los Baños Journal
ISSN
0117-1461
Volume
23
Issue
1
Page
1-23
Document Type
Article
College
College of Human Ecology (CHE)
Language
English
Subject
Mothers, Under-five children, Wasting, Stunting, Nutritional status
Recommended Citation
de Juras, Aileen R.; Forcadilla, Rodesa N.; Ingua, Mary Ann M.; and Bueno, Angeline A., "Maternal nutriture and concurrent wasting and stunting among under-five children: a systematic review" (2025). Journal Article. 6443.
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/journal-articles/6443