Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38530129›Full record

SynthesisMaternal & child nutrition2024

Effects of short birth interval on child malnutrition in the Asia-Pacific region: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Md Nuruzzaman Khan, Melissa L Harris, Tahir A Hassen, Tanmay Bagade, Desalegn M Shifti, Tesfaye R Feyissa, Catherine Chojenta

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Maternal & child nutrition, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Md Nuruzzaman KhanDepartment of Population Science, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0002-4550-4363
Melissa L HarrisCentre for Women's Health Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Tahir A HassenCentre for Women's Health Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Tanmay BagadeSchool of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Desalegn M ShiftiCentre for Women's Health Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Tesfaye R FeyissaDeakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Catherine ChojentaSchool of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Child malnutrition remains a significant concern in the Asia-Pacific region, with short birth intervals recognised as a potential risk factor. However, evidence of this association is inconclusive. This study aimed to systematically review the existing evidence and assess the summary effects of short birth interval on child malnutrition in the Asia-Pacific region. Five electronic databases were searched in May 2023 to identify relevant studies reporting the association between short birth interval and child malnutrition, including stunting, wasting, underweight, anaemia and overall malnutrition, in Asia-Pacific region between September 2000 and May 2023. Fixed-effects or random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the summary effects of short birth interval on child malnutrition. Out of 56 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, 48 were included in quantitative synthesis through meta-analysis. We found a slightly higher likelihood of stunting (n = 25, odds ratio [OR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97-1.32) and overall malnutrition (n = 3, OR = 2.42; 95% CI: 0.88-6.65) among children born in short birth intervals compared to those with nonshort intervals, although the effect was not statistically significant. However, caution is warranted due to identified heterogeneity across studies. Subgroup analysis demonstrated significant effects of short birth intervals on child malnutrition in national-level studies and studies with larger sample sizes. These findings underscore short birth intervals as a significant contributor to child malnutrition in the Asia-Pacific region. Implementing effective policies and programs is vital to alleviate this burden, ultimately reducing child malnutrition and associated adverse outcomes, including child mortality.

Indexed as

Birth IntervalsChild Nutrition DisordersAsiaChildGrowth DisordersHumansPacific IslandsRisk FactorsAsia‐Pacific regionchild malnutritionshort interval pregnancysystematic review and meta‐analysis

Identifiers

PMID38530129
PMCPMC11168362

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.