Understanding Malnutrition in Iraqi Children: Key Insights on Prevalence, Causes, and Solutions

Dear Editor-in-Chief,The prevalence of malnutrition among children aged ۰-۶ years in Iraq is a significant public health concern, with various studies highlighting different aspects of this issue (۱). The prevalence rates vary across regions and are influenced by socio-economic and environmental factors (۲). In Baghdad, the prevalence of malnutrition among preschool children was found to be ۱۸.۲%, with environmental factors such as unstable security situations playing a significant role (۳). A national survey indicated that ۲۷% of children under five in Iraq suffer from chronic malnutrition, despite extensive food aid efforts (۴).Recent data indicates that Iraq is making significant strides in addressing malnutrition. The prevalence of stunting among children under five years is reported at ۱۲.۶%, which is notably lower than the regional average of ۲۱.۸% (۵). Additionally, the prevalence of wasting has decreased to ۳%, also below the regional average (۶). However, challenges persist, particularly in southern Iraq, where stunting affects ۲۱% of children and wasting is reported at ۱۰.۸% (۷). At present, malnutrition among children in Iraq remains a significant public health concern, shaped by socio-economic, environmental, and political factors (۸). The following presents a brief analysis based on the latest data:

کلیدواژه ها:

children ، Iraq ، Malnutrition ، Prevalence