Abstract

Background
Child malnutrition is a significant public health concern, particularly in underdeveloped areas. Family structure is believed to play a role in the nutritional status of children, but the relationship between family type and child malnutrition remains understudied.
Methods
This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected from Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) sites of Maternal and Child Health centers in underdeveloped areas of Karachi, Pakistan. The study included 420 children aged 6-59 months and their mothers. Child nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements, and family type (nuclear or joint) was determined through interviews. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between family type and child malnutrition, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
The prevalence of malnutrition (underweight, stunting, or wasting) was 26.9% among the study participants. Bivariate analysis showed no significant association between family type and child malnutrition (p = 0.449). After adjusting for confounding factors, such as birth spacing, maternal education, and wealth status, the multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed no significant difference in the odds of malnutrition between children from nuclear and joint family structures (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.124, 95% CI: 0.728-1.736, p = 0.598).
Conclusions
The study findings suggest that family type (nuclear or joint) may not be a significant determinant of child malnutrition in underdeveloped areas of Karachi. Other factors, such as birth spacing, maternal education, and household wealth status, may play more crucial roles in influencing the nutritional status of children in these settings.
Keywords
Child malnutrition, family structure, nuclear family, joint family, urban slums, Karachi.