Wasting Among Under-Five Children from 1990 to 2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Wasting is crucial for decision-makers to have current and comprehensive data on malnutrition levels to prioritize interventions effectively. It is a widespread global health issue, particularly severe in developing countries like Bangladesh. The prevalence of wasting varies worldwide due to factors such as climate, ethnicity, and time trends. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of wasting among young children through a systematic review and meta-analysis. In total, 12 non-repetitive articles were identified for the study from databases like PubMed, Endnote, and others. Q, I2, and Forest plots were employed to analyze data collected from selected published papers between 1990 and 2020, focusing on wasting of under-five children. In published articles, the prevalence of wasting among under-five children has been reported between 5.3% and 30%. Pooled hazard ratios for wasted children ranged from 6.97 to 14.37, it was indicating a significant risk. The research highlighted fetal growth restriction as a major risk factor of wasting among under-five children.