Analysis of the Nutritional Situation of Children under Five in Hadjer Lamis Province, Chad

Abstract

Malnutrition remains a major public health concern among children under five in Chad, particularly in structurally vulnerable Sahelian areas. This study assessed the nutritional situation of children under five years of age in the departments of Dagana and Haraz Al Biar, Hadjer Lamis Province, Chad. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from 7 November to 15 December 2024. Data were collected from 399 mothers and their children using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric indices based on the 2006 World Health Organization child growth standards, and infant and young child feeding practices were evaluated using reported feeding indicators. The findings showed a high burden of malnutrition in both departments. In Dagana, the prevalence of global acute malnutrition was 10.69%, stunting was 43.73%, and underweight was 25.30%. In Haraz Al Biar, the corresponding prevalences were 7.41%, 31.67%, and 16.74%, respectively. Based on the classification thresholds used in the study, the nutritional situation in Dagana was serious for acute malnutrition and underweight and critical for chronic malnutrition, while Haraz Al Biar showed a precarious to serious situation. Infant and young child feeding indicators were also suboptimal. Although 64.37% of children aged 0–23 months were breastfed within the first hour after birth and 85.83% received colostrum, exclusive breastfeeding was reported by only 13.36% of mothers. Among children aged 6–23 months, minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet were 21%, 39%, and 30%, respectively. These findings indicate the need to strengthen nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions in both departments, with attention to child feeding practices, dietary diversity, morbidity prevention, and household food security.