Malnutrition is a physiological condition caused by deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in energy, macronutrients, or micronutrients. This can result from inadequate food intake or the body's inability to properly absorb nutrients from consumed food, often due to illness. 1 It is therefore the consequence of a diet insufficient in both quality and quantity, leading to protein and micronutrient deficiencies. 2 Despite progress made in combating all forms of malnutrition, stunted growth and wasting remain significant challenges in low-income countries. Additionally, iron deficiencies remain common among women, and the number of deaths and disabilities associated with poor-quality diets continues to rise. 3 Globally, at least one in three children under 5 years old does not develop properly due to one of the three most visible forms of malnutrition: stunted growth, wasting, and overweight. Moreover, at least one in two children under 5 years old suffers from hidden hunger due to deficiencies in vitamins and other essential nutrients. 4 In Africa, 30% of children under 5 years old are stunted, 5.8% suffer from wasting, and 38.9% are affected by hidden hunger. 5 In Benin, 32% of children suffer from stunted growth, 5% are wasted, 17% are underweight, and 2% are overweight. 6 In northern Benin, malnutrition remains a concerning issue with very high rates of stunted growth (57.3%), wasting (19.3%), and underweight (40.33%). 7 In the north-eastern part of the country, particularly in the communes of Borgou, including Tchaourou, the nutritional situation is very critical, with food insecurity affecting more than 32% of the population. 8 Malnutrition is a condition with severe consequences for health and human life. In Benin, the infant mortality rate is 89 deaths per 1,000 births, indicating that about 9% of children born in Benin die before their first birthday. Additionally, the under-five mortality rate is 160 deaths per 1,000 births, meaning that 16% of children born in Benin die before their fifth birthday. 9 In light of this alarming situation, we undertook this research to identify the determinants of malnutrition in children under 5 years old who are malnourished and admitted to Papanè Hospital, a commune located in the Borgou department in north-eastern Benin.

Malnutrition is a major public health issue that affects millions of people worldwide, particularly children. It is one of the deadliest conditions, especially in this segment of the population. In this context, the present study aimed to identify the determinants of malnutrition in children under 5 years old admitted to the Papanè hospital. To do so, we assessed the demographic characteristics, weaning practices, vaccination status, as well as the health and nutritional status of children seen in this center. Several factors were associated with malnutrition, which manifested in several critical forms, including a high prevalence of stunted growth, underweight, and wasting. Indeed, the analysis of the general characteristics of the population showed that the majority of the children included in this study were male (55%), with a sex ratio of 1.2 against girls. These results are consistent with several studies conducted nationally and internationally, including those by 12 in Iceland in the city of Bougainville, 13 in Burkina Faso, and 14 in Benin, specifically in the communes of Kérou, Kouandé, and Péhunco. However, these results differ from those obtained by 15 in the Pendjari plain in northwest Benin, where a sex ratio of 0.85 in favor of girls was observed. Our results could indicate greater vulnerability among boys or a sociocultural tendency to prioritize medical care for boys in the commune of Tchaourou. The most represented age group, accounting for 32.69%, is that of children aged 6 to 12 months. This result is similar to those obtained by 16 in the regions of Dakar and Thiès in Senegal, as well as by 17 in Egypt. This observation can be explained by the fact that this age group corresponds to the crucial period of weaning. During this time, children are particularly vulnerable to infections due to inadequate weaning practices. Moreover, the nutritional needs of children in this age group must be met by a balanced diet that replaces breast milk. Poor management of this transition can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Furthermore, our results show that the legal guardians of the children are mostly housewives (45.67%) and uneducated (56.73%). These results are very similar to those obtained by 7, who observed that the majority of the mothers of the children interviewed in their study were agricultural workers (34%) and 67% were uneducated. In contrast, 18 found different results, showing that only 29% of the mothers/guardians of the children admitted to the Kwale health and demographic surveillance system in Kenya were uneducated. In light of these results, it is urgent and important to improve nutritional education and awareness in these groups for better nutritional management of children in households. The results concerning weaning methods indicate that the majority of children (77.40%) were abruptly weaned, meaning they were not exclusively breastfed. This result is in line with those found by 19, who recorded 371 abruptly weaned patients (80%). Furthermore, only 11% of the children seen in consultation at the Papanè hospital were exclusively breastfed. This rate is similar to that recorded in Yemen (12%) during the National Health and Demographic Survey conducted by the Ministry of Public Health and Population in 2015. However, remarkable progress has been noted in this area in other countries, leading to increased rates of exclusive breastfeeding. This is the case in India and Indonesia, where rates exceed 50% 20. Given the very low rate of exclusive breastfeeding observed in our region, increased awareness of the benefits of this practice is necessary, given its numerous advantages for the health of mothers and infants, as well as the associated reductions in healthcare costs.

The analysis of vaccination coverage results reveals a rate of 40.86%. This result is well below that reported by 21, who found a rate of 68% in Senegal. In comparison, vaccination coverage reaches nearly 100% in China’s Guizhou province. However, this rate is comparable to that found in India during a study on infant vaccination coverage in the urban slums of Delhi 22. This low rate observed can be attributed to the resistance of certain populations to modern medical methods, preferring to maintain their traditional practices of care. Vaccination, which allows the body to recognize and fight the infectious agent, reduces the risk of contracting or spreading the disease. In this context, it is essential to organize expanded vaccination campaigns to improve the immunization of mothers and children in this locality. The health status of children seen in consultation at the Papanè health center is critical, with 35.10% suffering from diarrhea. This rate is significantly higher than that obtained by 23. The presence of symptoms such as diarrhea can be a precursor to malnutrition and vice versa, creating a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition. The assessment of the nutritional status of the children revealed that 74.88% of the patients suffered from stunted growth, 79.43% from underweight, and 90.34% from wasting. These rates are well above those reported by several authors, such as 24, 7, and 25. Several factors may explain these differences. First, the children included in the study were already ill at the time of hospital admission, which substantially increases the likelihood of observing severe cases of malnutrition in this hospital-based population. Second, the study was conducted at the beginning of the rainy season in the north, a period often marked by disease outbreaks, particularly among children under five. Third, this period is the lean season, when access to food is often very limited, especially for poor families. Finally, the low educational level of the parents or guardians of the children also contributed to these worrying results. Furthermore, the distribution curves of the T/A, P/A, and P/T indices are skewed to the left, indicating a critical undernutrition situation in this part of Tchaourou. This result is consistent with those obtained by several authors in their respective studies, as well as other surveys 26, 27, 28. The similarity of these results further underscores that the issue of undernutrition is a public health concern.

The outcomes of the management of malnourished children in the pediatric department were as follows: 92.6% of the children suffering from severe malnutrition recovered, while 5.9% abandoned treatment and 1.5% died, having been admitted in a critical and hopeless condition. These results are comparable to those obtained by 29, who showed that 90.44% of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases were successfully treated, 3.68% died, and 2.20% abandoned treatment. In contrast, another study conducted by 30 reported a low recovery rate (61.6%) and a high mortality rate (26.7%) compared to the various rates obtained in this study. The comparison of these results indicates that, in the area where our study was conducted, the healthcare system and technical staff have done a remarkable job in the fight against malnutrition. However, additional efforts are needed to achieve a zero mortality rate among children. Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a lower prevalence of severe malnutrition (p = 0.0075). Gradual weaning is also associated with a better nutritional situation compared to abrupt weaning. Similarly, there is a significant relationship between malnutrition and the type of weaning (p = 0.000). The marital status and type of household are significantly related to malnutrition (p = 0.000), with a higher rate of severe malnutrition among children of single mothers (36.06%) and polygamous households (49.52%). This result is corroborated by those of 31, who found that children not exclusively breastfed before 6 months (OR = 16.44 (3.93-68.8)) are more likely to suffer from acute malnutrition. However, other authors have obtained different results. 32 Identified determinants of malnutrition such as the mother’s level of education (less than 7 years), the absence of a potable water tap in the household, male gender, and age over 11 months. Additionally, decreased appetite and diarrhea were significantly associated with malnutrition. According to 33, dietary diversity is the main determinant of malnutrition. These results clearly show that a multitude of factors are associated with malnutrition. For an effective fight against this scourge, a multidimensional approach would be more appropriate.

This study highlighted the factors contributing to malnutrition among children under five years old seen at the Pediatric Department of Saint Martin Hospital in Papané. The results reveal a high prevalence of malnutrition in its various forms: stunted growth, wasting, and underweight. The main associated factors include inadequate feeding practices, such as the lack of exclusive breastfeeding and abrupt weaning, as well as unfavorable socio-economic conditions, such as low maternal education levels and polygamous households. To effectively combat this issue, a multidimensional approach that incorporates nutritional, educational, and social interventions is necessary to improve the nutritional status of children in this region.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The authors declare that they have received no funding for this article. They have self-funded this research.

We express our gratitude to Mr. DANHOUEGNON D. Romaric for assisting us in finding a comfortable internship location, and to Dr. KOUTHON Cossi Emile, Director of Saint Martin Hospital in Papanè, along with the entire staff, for their invaluable support in facilitating our research during the internship. Thank you for your consideration and commitment.