Maternal and Child-Related Factors Associated With Severe Acute Malnutrition in Hospitalized Children: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Severe acute malnutrition is influenced by a combination of child feeding, immunization, socioeconomic, and maternal factors. Objective: To describe maternal and child-related factors among hospitalized children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and identify patterns with implications for prevention and counseling. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 204 children aged 6-30 months who were admitted with SAM to the department of paediatrics, SSG Hospital and Medical College, Vadodara, during 2023-2024. The child’s age, gender, residence, breastfeeding status, immunization, and complementary feeding were recorded. The mother’s age, parity, and literacy level were also noted. Results: Of 204 children, 57.84% were male and 54.9% were aged 12-24 months. Furthermore, 67.64% were from rural areas. In the source table, 56.86% were listed under breastfeeding for 6 months, 40.19% under no breastfeeding, and 2.94% under breastfeeding for 2 years. Incomplete immunization was reported in 68.62%, whereas 73.03% had improper complementary feeding. The mean age of the mothers was 24.8 years, and 57.35% had parity greater than two. Moreover, 45.58% of the mothers were illiterate, while only 8.82% had higher-secondary education or graduation. Conclusion: Children admitted with SAM in this cohort were mostly from rural areas and commonly had incomplete immunization and improper complementary feeding. Low maternal literacy and parity greater than two were also common. Because the study enrolled only children with SAM, these patterns should not be interpreted as independent risk factors without a non-SAM comparison group.