Open access Original research BMJ Open: first published as 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048644 on 13 August 2021. Downloaded from Comparative analysis of developmental profile between normal and severe acute malnourished under-five children in Pakistan: a multicentre cross- sectional study Javeria Saleem,1 Rubeena Zakar,1 Faisal Mushtaq,2 Gul Mehar Javaid Bukhari,3 Florian Fischer 4,5 To cite: Saleem J, Zakar R, ABSTRACT Strengths and limitations of this study Mushtaq F, et al. Comparative Objectives This study aims to compare the analysis of developmental developmental profile of severe acute malnourished profile between normal and ► Results are based on a multicentre cross-sectional (SAM) and normal under- five children and to find severe acute malnourished analytical study. sociodemographic determinants accountable for their under- five children in ► The study has been conducted in three basic health Pakistan: a multicentre cross- developmental disabilities. units and one rural health centre in the Dera Ghazi sectional study. BMJ Open Setting We conducted a multi- centre cross- sectional Khan District of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. 2021;11:e048644. doi:10.1136/ study in three basic health units and one rural health ► The major limitation of this study is its cross- bmjopen-2021-048644 centre in Pakistan. sectional design, which does not allow for follow-up ► Prepublication history and Participants 200 children (SAM and healthy) aged children for investigating factors that might affect additional supplemental material 6–59 months. the outcome. for this paper are available Primary and secondary measures We screened for online. To view these files, nutritional status and clinical complications. Children please visit the journal online. underwent for developmental assessment by Denver INTRODUCTION (http:// dx. doi. org/ 10. 1136/ Development Screening Tool II. A pretested structured bmjopen- 2021- 048644). The word ‘child development’ designates questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics progression of the child in all domains of http://bmjopen.bmj.com/ Received 04 January 2021 and nutrition was used for collecting data about human functioning, that is, social, cogni- Accepted 04 August 2021 determinants of developmental delay. tive, motor, hearing and speech.1 Global Results We observed statistically significant statistics from WHO showed that an esti- differences in anthropometric measurements among mated 45.4 million children under five, SAM compared with normal nourished in weight, height, which are 6.7% of total under five, suffered mid- upper arm circumference and weight- for- height from wasting, while 149.2 million children z- scores. SAM serves as a significant risk factors 2 (p<0.001) for delayed personal or social development (22%) suffered from stunting in 2021. Glob- ally, children with severe malnutrition also (69% vs 11%; OR (95% CI)=18.01 (8.45 to 38.37)), on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. delayed fine motor development (39% vs 8%; OR contribute to more than 1 million under- five 3 (95% CI)=7.35 (3.22 to 16.81)), delayed language deaths annually. Regarding delayed devel- development (32% vs 8%; OR (95% CI)=5.41 (2.35 to opmental potential, United Nations Interna- 12.48)), delayed gross motor development (34% vs tional Children’s Emergency Fund estimates 10%; OR (95% CI)=4.64 (2.14 to 10.05)) and delayed of 2016 showed that more than 43% children global development (66% vs 20%; OR (95% CI)=7.77 under five are not up to the mark and as per (4.09 to 14.74)). Applying logistic regression, personal World Bank statistics, around 250 million © Author(s) (or their or social development (p<0.001) and language children in low- income and middle- income employer(s)) 2021. Re- use development (p<0.05), under-five siblings was a risk countries are having risk of delayed develop- permitted under CC BY-NC. No factor, while among gross motor development, mother’s commercial re- use. See rights mental potential. The reasons behind this and permissions. Published by educational status (p<0.05) was a significant risk factor could be poverty, poor nutrition as well as BMJ. for developmental delay. stunting (or less than standard height for For numbered affiliations see Conclusions Our analysis indicates that children with age).4 5 The association between nutritional end of article. malnutrition have a high frequency of developmental status and child development cannot be delays. Missing maternal education and a higher number overemphasised, particularly in developing Correspondence to of under- five siblings are also potential risk factors for countries, as numerous studies have shown Florian Fischer; developmental delay. florian. fischer1@ charite. de strong associations between the two.6 7 Many Saleem J, et al. BMJ Open 2021;11:e048644. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048644 1 Open access BMJ Open: first published as 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048644 on 13 August 2021. Downloaded from children under 5 years of age in developing countries are METHODS subject to multiple risks: poverty, poor health, malnutri- Study design and setting tion and the absence of a health promoting social envi- A multicentre cross- sectional analytical study was ronment adversely alter their development.6–8 A study conducted in Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) from Jamaica showed that interventions of educating Centres situated in three basic health units (BHUs) and mothers in their primary care strategies regarding one rural health centre (RHC) in the Dera Ghazi Khan rearing of undernourished children provides significant District of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. This district has results in the development of children with their hearing a high illiteracy rate and the majority of the population and speech, overall performance as well as coordination has a comparatively low socioeconomic status. It is also a 9 disadvantaged district with a high prevalence of malnutri- between hand and eyes. 14 Severe acute malnutrition (SAM), as identified by the tion and poverty, especially among children. WHO, is a ‘weight-for -height z-score (WHZ) < −3 SD of Out of 16 OTP Centres in the Dera Ghazi Khan region, the median WHO growth standards or a mid- upper- arm as per recommendations of the District Health Office, a total of four centres (three BHUs and one RHC) were circumference (MUAC) <115 mm, by visible severe wasting selected. The recommendation implies that these centres or presence of nutritional oedema’. It is the gravest form were actively functioning in terms of staff members as of under-nutrition, and, furthermore, categorised as well as availability of therapeutic food. Moreover, these complicated and uncomplicated SAM on the footing of selected centres were being used as screening centres for the presence of medical complications.10 Malnutrition assessing nutritional status of the infants and children and developmental challenges are among the main health for timely recognition and also referring them in case of problems of childhood, specifically affecting developing 1 10 complications to other tertiary care facilities. countries. Malnutrition both affects physical growth, Participants with SAM were enrolled before receiving and it also results in delayed cognitive and motor growth nutritional treatment from outpatient therapeutic 11–13 of a child. programme centres of these health units. Healthy chil- However, malnutrition is not the only factor affecting dren were recruited from the immunisation centres and children’s physical and development growth. There are from polio campaign of the same health units who are further promoting as well as risk factors that play their coming for their regular immunisation in the same time vital role in a child’s upbringing and developmental period. potential.1 These risk factors are related to children’s unconstructive sociocultural or caregiving environment, Sample size calculation and eligibility criteria meagre stimulation, micronutrient deficiencies, lack of For sample size calculation, we used a formula for cross- breastfeeding, housing, number of siblings, inappropriate sectional studies taking early childhood disability prev- alence (p) as 5.5%15 and an error term (d) of 0.05. child care, child health problems, chronic illness, family http://bmjopen.bmj.com/ income, gender discrimination and school facilities. All According to this, the calculated sample size was n=80 of these may have a negative impact on attainment of a in each group. Assuming non-responses, for the sake of child’s developmental potential. They are accountable having a large power and allowing for subgroup analyses, for discrepancies in all developmental domains, such as we aimed to include 100 children for each group. There- personal social behaviour, motor skills, school perfor- fore, 200 children (boys and girls) aged 6–59 months mance, as well as cognitive and psychomotor develop- fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study ment.1 7 after written consent of parents or caregivers (figure 1). The inclusion criteria for children with SAM was the Pakistan is one of those developing countries where the on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. presence of severe wasting as assessed by the protocols of population faces numerous issues: poverty plays a vital WHO (weight-for -height < −3 SD and height-for -age < −2 role as it results in poor health of children, and devel- SD) without any complications of malnutrition.8 Children opmental disabilities along with malnutrition.14 Although with physical defects,