In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers assessed the correlation between parental education level and the chance of malnutrition amongst children and oldsters.

Study: Association Between Parental Education and Simultaneous Malnutrition Amongst Parents and Children in 45 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Image Credit: Raimunda-losantos/Shutterstock

Background

Within the era of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDG), ending all sorts of malnutrition by 2030 is the highest global health agenda. Because of the widespread prevalence of instances of underweight, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies, low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are deemed as a top priority. To finish hunger, progress toward the SDGs have to be made, however the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) presents a latest obstacle. Yet, research on how parental education affects the prevalence of DBM has not been conducted globally.

Concerning the study

In the current study, researchers examined the correlation of parental education with the co-occurrence of malnutrition in parents and kids.

The team performed a cross-sectional evaluation utilizing probably the most recent Directorate of Health Services (DHS) data recorded between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2021. Using a comprehensive, standardized questionnaire, the cross-sectional surveys obtained socioeconomic, demographic, and health data related to oldsters and their children. Following are the eligibility requirements for the analytical sample: (1) children aged between zero and 59 months; (2) moms who weren’t pregnant through the survey within the cohort involving mother-child pairs, and (3) valid height, weight, and hemoglobin measurements for the kid a minimum of 1 measurement of their parents.

The first outcomes involved DBM and all subtypes of DBM. DBM in mother-child pairings was described because the presence of a minimum of 1 style of malnutrition within the mother and her child. Similarly, DBM inside father-child pairings was characterised because the simultaneous appearance of the kid and paternal malnutrition. The team categorized DBM into 4 subtypes: (1) coexistence of overnutrition within the mother/father and undernutrition within the child; (2) coexistence of undernutrition within the mother/father and overnutrition within the child; (3) coexistence of overnutrition in each mother/father in addition to the kid; and (4) coexistence of undernutrition within the mother/father in addition to the kid.

The team determined parental education based on the best educational level attained and the variety of years spent at school. For every parent, a categorical variable was generated involving illiteracy or elementary, secondary, or tertiary education.

Results

The team identified 42,3340 mother-child pairs belonging to 45 countries using DHS information. The typical age of mother-child pairings was 28.2 years. Moreover, there have been a complete of two,07,573 mother-child pairings affected by DBM. At the identical time, 1,77,083 had simultaneous undernutrition of the mother and the kid, and 56,020 reported overnutrition of the mother and undernutrition of the kid. The predominance of DBM was considerably lower in pairings with educated moms in comparison with those with uneducated moms.

Three of the 4 subtypes of DBM related to overnutrition were more prevalent in mother-child pairings involving higher maternal education levels. For example, the frequency of simultaneous overnutrition within the mother and undernutrition within the child was 18.5% amongst pairings with moms having a tertiary education level versus 10.5% amongst pairs with moms without education. The frequency of simultaneous maternal and child undernutrition was more amongst pairings with moms having no education as in comparison with those educated at a tertiary level.

The study cohort also consisted of 56,720 father-child pairings belonging to 16 countries, including 1,5057 affected by DBM. Also, DBM prevalence was greater amongst pairs with educated fathers than amongst those with uneducated fathers. With respect to DBM types, father-child pairings involving higher paternal education levels had the next likelihood of affected by any DBM, including overnutrition, and a lower likelihood of being undernourished.

Overall, mother-child pairings with higher levels of maternal education had a lower prevalence of DBM. The team discovered that higher levels of maternal education were related to an increased likelihood of developing DBM subtypes that involved overnutrition. Compared to mother-child pairings having no maternal education, individuals with secondary maternal education displayed the next likelihood of simultaneous overnutrition within the mother and undernutrition within the child.

The team found no correlation between paternal education and the incidence of DBM typically. Moreover, households involving fathers educated with secondary or tertiary education displayed the next likelihood of simultaneous overnutrition of the daddy and undernutrition of the kid compared to households involving uneducated fathers.

Conclusion

The study findings showed that higher parental education was related to an increased likelihood of incidence of just about all DBM subtypes, including overnutrition and a decreased likelihood of undernourishment of each child and parent. The researchers imagine these findings can have significant implications for policymakers’ ability to tell apart between subgroups and formulate tailored policies. The team also suggested that more attention is required to the difficulty of overnutrition amongst households with the next level of education.