Statistical modeling of acute diarrhea in pediatric malnutrition based on the assessment of nutritional status and clinical manifestations: a retrospective study in South-Punjab, Pakistan.

Abstract

Background: Childhood severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains an imperative global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited access to healthcare and nutrition services. The co-occurrence of diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal ailment in children, alongside SAM, amplifies the complexity and danger of the situation. We conducted a thorough investigation into the nutritional and clinical conditions of pediatric patients with SAM and diarrhea, while also exploring any possible gender-related clinical differences.

Methods: The study involved 550 children with SAM and diarrhea, ultimately analyzing 485 children aged 1-37 mo. Multinomial logistic regression analysis and descriptive statistics were conducted to determine the impact of various clinical factors on the nutritional status of pediatric diarrhea patients with SAM using statistical software SPSS (version 25) and (R-Studio).

Results: The study revealed a predominantly male population (72.8%) aged 1-10 mo (74.80%). Anthropometric measurements varied among the children, emphasizing the need for individualized interventions due to the complexity of this group. The study also investigated gender-related clinical factors and identified a lower likelihood of vomiting in males.

Conclusions: This study highlights the nutritional and clinical hurdles faced by pediatric patients with SAM and diarrhea. Although some gender-related distinctions were observed, the overall clinical presentation remained relatively consistent.