Composite index of anthropometric failure and conventional anthropometric indices of undernutrition among children in India – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction and aim. The high prevalence of childhood undernutrition continues to be a major public health issue in India. This systematic and meta-analysis study employed both the composite index of anthropometric failures (CIAF) and conventional to determine the magnitude of undernutrition in Indian children. Material and methods. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from 2005 to June 2023 using electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, J-Gate, and ScienceDirect. A random-effects model for pooled prevalence rates was generated and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 index and Q statistics. Analysis of the literature. CIAF revealed a higher prevalence of undernutrition than conventional anthropometric indices in children aged 0 to 72 months. The combined prevalence of stunting and underweight was 37% (95%CI: 0.32-0.41), and wasting was 22% (95%CI: 0.18-0.25) (p<0.01). However, according to CIAF categorization, the pooled prevalence of undernourishment was reported to be 55% (95% CI:0.50-0.60; p<0.01). CIAF’s higher prevalence highlights its effectiveness in capturing childhood undernutrition, accounting for children with multiple concurrent nutritional deficiencies in population. Conclusion. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the assessment of undernutrition using conventional anthropometric indices compared with CIAF, which aggregate different aspects of undernutrition, especially when children have multiple undernutrition issues. Appropriate, target-specific interventions are necessary to improve the overall nutritional status of Indian children.