Abstract

Introduction: Globalization and urbanization have led to the "double burden of malnutrition" (DBM), where undernutrition and obesity coexist. The WHO defines DBM as the presence of both undernutrition and over nutrition across populations. This study assesses the prevalence of DBM and associated factors among women at childbearing age (15-49 years) by Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) in Taiz Governorate

Methods: The study involved a secondary data analysis of the 2023 Nutrition and Mortality Standardized Monitoring Assessment for Relief and Transition Method (SMART) survey of 2729 women aged 15–49 years conducted in Taiz Governorate from November 11 to 26, 2023. Data were collected using validated questionnaires, and respondents were selected through a representative two-stage cluster sampling technique. Appropriate descriptive statistical analysis was applied.

Results: The prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in the internally recognized governorates (IRG) areas of Taiz among women of reproductive age was 14.1% (95% CI: 12.8-15.5), and 12.6% (95% CI: 11.4-13.9), 13.9% (95% CI: 12.7-15.3) respectively. Among the lactating, pregnant and not lactating and/or not pregnant women, the prevalence of underweight was 24.6% (95% CI:21.1-28.5), 32.1% (95% CI: 25.9-38.8) and 9.1% (95% CI: 7.8-10.4) respectively and overweight was 12.5% (95% CI: 9.9-15.6), 9.8% (95% CI: 6.1-14.5) and 12.9% (95% CI: 11.5-14.5) respectively, while the prevalence of obesity among lactating was 11.2% (95% CI: 8.8-14.1), among not lactating and/or not pregnant was 15.2% (95% CI: 13.7-16.9) and among pregnant women was 9.3% (95% CI: 5.8-14.0) .

Conclusion: A double burden of malnutrition was clear and tangible in Taiz with the reported prevalence of all categories of malnutrition among women of reproductive age. A need to address the dual problems of undernutrition and rapidly rising trends of overweight/obesity in an integrated manner, without neglecting either of them.

Keywords: Overweight and obesity, under nutrition, women at reproductive age, Taiz.

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