FOOD INSECURITY AND THE RISKS OF UNDER-NUTRITION COMPLICATIONS AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Background and Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between household food insecurity and the risk of being under-weight, stunting and wasting in children and adolescents.Methods: Pertinent studies were identified by searching PubMed and Scopus databases up to June 2018. A total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria to be included in the pooled analysis. The risk ratio of 55173 individuals from twelve different countries were pooled in these studies for our meta-analysis.It was found that food insecurity increased the risk of stunting (OR = 1.17 95% CI: 1.09-1.25) and under-weight (OR = 1.17 95% CI: 1.01-1.36) but not of being wasting (OR = 1.0495% CI: 0.96-1.12). Subgroup analysis by age showed that food insecurity increased the stunting risk (OR = 1.20 95% CI: 1.02-1.39) and under-weight (OR = 1.34 95% CI: 1.02-1.77) in children above 5 years old. This association was significant just for stunting risk (OR = 1.14 95% CI: 1.05-1.23) in under 5 years children. Furthermore, among children and adolescent risks of stunting or being under-weight increases by the intensification of the level of food insecurity in food-insecure households.Conclusion: It seems that household food insecurity may be associated with higher risks of stunting and being under-weight among children and adolescents. Additionally, the intensification of the level of food insecurity and the increased age of children may increase the risks of stunting or being under-weight in food-insecure households

Keywords:

children , adolescents , food insecurity , under-weight , stunting , wasting