Dual burden of malnutrition among mother-child dyads in Mozambique: Findings from the Demographic and Health Survey 2022–2023

Introduction: Nutritional challenges are a global public health concern, especially among children under five in sub-Saharan African countries. The coexistence of an overweight/obese mother and an underweight child in the same household is recognized as a dual burden of malnutrition (DBM). This study estimated the prevalence, identified associated factors, and assessed socioeconomic inequalities in DBM among mother-child dyads in Mozambique. Methods: We used nationally representative, cross-sectional data from the Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey 2022–2023 (n = 3,605 mother-child dyads). Child undernutrition and maternal BMI status were calculated using the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard guidelines. The outcome variable, DBM, was defined as the presence of child undernutrition condition (stunting, wasting or underweight) with corresponding maternal overweight/obesity. Multivariable binary logistic regression, Erreygers’s concentration index, and concentration curve analyses were performed, accounting for the complex survey design, to determine associated factors and social inequalities. Results: The prevalence of DBM was 5.5% [95% CI: 4.6, 6.6]. Mothers aged ≥ 34 years [aOR (95% CI): 4.01(1.44, 11.14); p