Childhood Wasting and its Determinants: A Statistical Analysis Using Cross-sectional Survey Data

Globally, childhood wasting has been a major public health issue for decades and its burden has been overwhelmingly borne by low- and middle-income countries. In Yemen, ongoing conflict and economic hardship have contributed to alarmingly high rates of childhood wasting. This study aimed to identify factors associated with wasting among Yemeni children under five aged based on the 2022–2023 Yemen Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). A total of 18,389 children were investigated. Univariable and multivariable survey logistic regression models were used to examine the association of the study factors with childhood wasting. The results of the study reveal that male children, those in the first two years of life, children from low-income households and those without access to designated handwashing facilities had higher odds of childhood wasting. These findings give the policy markers a valuable direction for public health work targeting childhood malnutrition in Yemen.