Nutritional Status of Children with Cereal Disease through the Anthropometric Measurements at the Maternity’s and Children’s Hospital

Abstract

Background: Celiac disease (CD) in children often leads to nutrient malabsorption, impacting growth and nutritional status. This study aimed to assess the demographic profile and nutritional status of children with CD using anthropometric measurements. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 290 children diagnosed with CD at a Maternity and Children's Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, from July 2024 to March 2025. Data on sex, age, CD case type (newly diagnosed/follow-up), socioeconomic status, residence area, and anthropometric measures (height, weight, BMI) were collected. Nutritional status was assessed, and associations with demographic factors were explored. Results: The sample comprised more females (57.9%) than males (42.1%). The largest age group was 4-6 years (43.5%), and most cases were under follow-up (70.5%). Over half the families had low socio-economic status (51.7%), with a near-even split between urban (53.5%) and rural (46.5%) residences. A significant proportion (31.8%) of children were underweight (BMI < 14.5), with undernutrition rates increasing with age. Females showed consistently lower BMI ranges (11.4-12.2 kg/m²) compared to males (18.16-20.2 kg/m²), suggesting a higher vulnerability to underweight. The study found a significant association between demographic information and nutritional status, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Conclusion: Undernutrition is highly prevalent among children with CD in this cohort, intensifying with age and showing distinct patterns between genders. Demographic factors, particularly socioeconomic status, significantly influence these nutritional outcomes. Findings underscore the critical need for early diagnosis, consistent growth monitoring, and targeted nutritional interventions for children with CD, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to mitigate the long-term impacts of the disease.