Maternal Education as a Determinant of Malnutrition Severity Among Hospitalized Children in Umerkot, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Maternal Education and Malnutrition Severity in Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62807/jowach.v2i13.2025.29-33Keywords:
Maternal education, Malnutrition, MUAC, Pediatric nutrition, Pakistan, Public healthAbstract
Background
Maternal education is a key determinant of child nutrition outcomes in low-income settings. Limited evidence exists from rural Pakistan on how maternal educational attainment influences acute malnutrition severity in hospitalized children. This study examines the association between maternal education and malnutrition severity among pediatric inpatients in Umerkot, Sindh.
Methods
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 298 children aged 6–59 months admitted to District Headquarter Hospital Umerkot. Data on maternal education, demographics, immunization, feeding practices, and anthropometry (MUAC) were collected. Malnutrition was categorized as normal, moderate, or severe using WHO MUAC criteria. Chi-square tests, ANOVA, binary logistic regression, and multivariate models adjusted for confounders including age, sex, residence, immunization, and dietary intake.
Results
Overall malnutrition prevalence was 34.6%, with 26.5% moderate and 8.1% severe cases. Children of mothers with no formal education had significantly higher odds of severe malnutrition (adjusted OR 3.12; 95% CI 1.61–6.03; p<0.001) compared with those whose mothers completed secondary or higher education. A dose–response gradient was observed across education levels. Incomplete immunization, rural residence, and low dietary diversity further increased risk.
Conclusions
Low maternal education strongly predicts higher malnutrition severity among hospitalized children in rural Pakistan. Interventions should prioritize caregiver education, community health literacy, and integrated nutrition–immunization programs.
Keywords:
Maternal education; Malnutrition; MUAC; Pediatric nutrition; Pakistan; Public health
References
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Copyright (c) 2025 Jan Muhammad Vistro, Hafiza Summaiyah Mughal (Author)
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