Stunting among primary-school children: a sample from Baghdad, Iraq

The aim of this study was to establish baseline information about the prevalence and distribution of growth deficit (stunting) in a sample of Iraqi schoolchildren from the capital, Baghdad. A cross-sectional descriptive analysis of the growth status of 5286 primary-school children aged 7–12 years (2888 males, 2398 females) was conducted by measuring the prevalence of stunting (height-for-age Z-score –2), and underweight (body mass index-for-age) using the NCHS/WHO and IOTF/WHO cutoff values respectively. The prevalence of stunting only, and concurrent stunting and underweight, were 18.7% and 13.5% respectively, with a slight predominance among girls. The study also demonstrated the progression of height deficit with increasing age.