Mild Malnutrition in Children Aged 6–24 Months and Related Influencing Factors: Research From an Outpatient Clinic of Pediatric Health Care

ABSTRACT

Mild malnutrition in infants and young children is an early stage of nutritional deficiency characterized by a slight reduction in nutritional reserves and mild impairment of physiological functions but no obvious clinical symptoms or severe growth retardation. Parents often overlook this condition because typical signs are absent. This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the current status of mild malnutrition in infants and young children aged 6–24 months attending a pediatric health clinic, analyze its influencing factors, and provide a basis for nutritional health guidance. The study included 879 infants and young children aged 6–24 months who underwent physical examinations at the Outpatient Clinic of Pediatric Health Care, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China, from December 2024 to August 2025. The survey results showed a detection rate of mild malnutrition of 13.88% (122/879). After including statistically significant factors from univariable analysis in a multivariable logistic regression, the following risk factors were identified: food allergies (odds ratio (OR) = 3.117, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.902–5.108), low maternal education level (OR = 1.969, 95% CI: 1.166–3.325), low birth weight (OR = 1.759, 95% CI: 1.041–2.973), maternal prepregnancy BMI < 18.5 (OR = 2.197, 95% CI: 1.252–3.855), frequent nighttime awakenings (OR = 2.427, 95% CI: 1.481–3.975), and insufficient complementary feeding frequency (OR = 1.550, 95% CI: 1.030–2.332). The detection rate of mild malnutrition in infants and young children aged 6–24 months at pediatric clinics is relatively high, and clinical work should give sufficient attention to this issue. Proactive guidance should be provided to these children to promote healthy growth.