MALNUTRITION IN IRAQI CHILDREN FOLLOWING THE GULF-WAR - RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY

The community-based Iraq Infant and Child Mortality and Nutrition Surv ey was designed to estimate mortality and nutritional status of Iraqi infants and children under five years of age after the Gulf conflict o f 1991. This article presents results from a nationwide nutritional su rvey conducted between August 25 and September 5, 1991. A random multi stage cluster sample was selected, including a subsample of 2676 child ren in the anthropometric analysis. The percentage below -2 standard d eviations was 21.8% for height-for-age, 11.9% for weight-for-age, and 3.4% for weight-for-height. It is possible that the observed prevalenc e of wasting was an underestimate, resulting from a survivor bias. Thi s observation suggests that cross-sectional nutritional surveys may no t be the most appropriate method for assessing the effect of the Gulf conflict on the nutritional status of children in Iraq. Longitudinal i nformation on child mortality and nutritional status would be more use ful in predicting the likelihood of famine.