Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40920765›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

A structural equation modeling approach to examine determinants of nutritional status in Palestinian children 6-59 months.

Ghada Issa, Radwan Qasrawi, Suliman Thwib, Malak Amro, Razan Abu Ghoush, Sabri Saghir, Doa'a Mujahed, Maysaa Nemer, Mousa Halaika, Manal Badrasawi and 5 more

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Ghada IssaDepartment of Computer Sciences, Al Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Radwan QasrawiDepartment of Computer Sciences, Al Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8671-7026
Suliman ThwibDepartment of Computer Sciences, Al Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Malak AmroDepartment of Computer Sciences, Al Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Razan Abu GhoushThe Center of Technology and Innovation, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5128-2642
Sabri SaghirDepartment of Nutrition and Food technology, College of Agriculture, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine.
Doa'a MujahedDepartment of Nutrition and Food technology, College of Agriculture, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine.
Maysaa NemerInstitute Of Community and Public Health, Birzeit university, Ram Allah, Palestine.
Mousa HalaikaNutrition Department Director, Ministry of Health, Palestine.
Manal BadrasawiNutrition and Food Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Vetrenary Medicine, An-Najah National University, Palestine.
Ayoub Al-JawaldehRegional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt.
Ibrahim ElmadfaDepartment of Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Lara NasreddineNutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Diala Abu Al-HalawaDepartment of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Maisan NimerDepartment of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUndernutrition remains a persistent public health concern among young children in Palestine, shaped by a range of socioeconomic and dietary factors. This study applies a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach to explore both direct and indirect determinants of child growth among children aged 6-59 months in the West Bank.

methodsData were drawn from a 2022 cross-sectional survey involving 300 children selected from 1,400 households. Child growth was assessed using anthropometric indicators (HAZ, WAZ, MUAC) and dietary adequacy via the Mean Nutrient Inadequacy Ratio (MNIR). Latent constructs were developed for socioeconomic status, food insecurity, dietary intake (macro- and micronutrients), feeding practices, neonatal health, and food availability. SEM was used to examine interrelationships and the pathways influencing child nutritional status.

resultsDescriptive analysis showed substantial variation in undernutrition and nutrient intake across regions, family size, and parental education. SEM results showed that macronutrient intake had the strongest direct effect on child growth, followed by socioeconomic status and neonatal health. Infant feeding practices and micronutrient intake also contributed positively, though their effects were primarily indirect. Food availability acted as a significant mediator, linking structural access issues to poor dietary diversity and feeding behavior. The model demonstrated good fit across multiple indices.

conclusionChild nutrition in Palestine is shaped by interrelated determinants of dietary intake, caregiver practices, food access, and early-life health conditions. Effective interventions must target both nutritional quality and the broader social and environmental context to improve growth outcomes. SEM offers a powerful framework to understand these pathways and guide evidence-based policy design.

Indexed as

Nutritional StatusArabsChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesDietFeeding BehaviorFemaleHumansInfantLatent Class AnalysisMaleMalnutritionMiddle EastSocioeconomic Factors

Identifiers

PMID40920765
PMCPMC12416647

What Socratic holds

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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 Socratic graph.