Table 1 Characteristics of studies included
Authors, years | Country | Region | Design | Quality | Sample size | Effects of armed conflict on childhood nutrition | Factors +vely associated with undernutrition in conflict areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kien Le, 2021 [11] | DRC | Central Africa | Surveys | 1 | 10,600 | • Makes children weigh less for their age by 0.20 SDS. • Makes children weigh less than their height by 0.24 SDs. • Increases the magnitude underweight by 17.6%. • Increases the magnitude of waste by 35%. | • Low-educated mothers, poor mothers, and rural mothers |
Kinyoki DK et al., 2017 [21] | Somalia | East Africa | Surveys | 1 | 73,778 | • The effects of the recent and longer-term conflict were large, with 76% and 88% greater odds of wasting and stunting and nationally, attributable fractions of 13% and 14%, respectively. | • Log duration of the conflict |
Kountchou et al., 2019 [22] | Chad | North-central Africa | Surveys | 1 | 18,463 | • 43% of children are stunted. • 33% of children being underweight. • 15% of children are wasted given the mean value of the weight-forage. | • Male sex • Older age • Low education |
Howell, 2020 [14] | Nigeria | West Africa | survey | 1 | 15,961 | • Close to a conflict zone and acute malnutrition was high. | • Rural residence • Long duration of the conflict |
Samson Olufunminiyi Idowu et al., 2020 [23] | Nigeria | West Africa | Survey | 1 | 288 | • Children in conflict zones had significantly undernourished (stunted, wasted, and underweight). | • Association is not conducted |
Mulugeta Gebregziabher [24] | Ethiopia | East Africa | Survey | 1 | 3269 | • Severe acute malnutrition increased significantly from 1% in 2019 (pre-war) to 6%, and moderate acute malnutrition increased significantly from 8 to 22%. • Global acute malnutrition nearly tripled from 10% in 2019 to 28%. | • Association is not conducted |
Dahab et al., 2020 [9] | Sudan | East Africa | Survey | 1 | 14,081 | • Armed conflict is associated with a greater risk of severe and moderate underweight. • There is statistical evidence of an association between armed conflict and the risk of severe underweight. | • Low education • Poorest wealth index • Rural residence |
Gillian Dunn, 2018 [10] | Nigeria | West Africa | Surveys | 1 | 2572 | • Armed conflict decreases wasting | • Low education |
Kiarie et al., 2021 [12] | South Sudan | East Africa | Surveys | 1 | 630 | • The prevalence of undernutrition explained by wasting, underweight, and stunting were 2.3%, 4.8%, and 23.8%, respectively. | • Male sex • Older age |
Sumbele et al., 2020 [25] | Cameroon | West Africa | Surveys | 1 | 649 | • Stunting, underweight, and wasting occurred in 31.3, 13.1, and 6.3% of the children, respectively. | • Low educational • Older age |