Biopsychosocial factors associated with undernutrition in children under 5 years of age: a review of the state of the art

Introduction: The least developed countries exhibit significantly higher levels of stunting in children under 5 years of age, as well as anemia in women aged 15 to 49 years. In 2022, stunting affected 22,3 % of children under 5 years of age worldwide. Objective: to update the knowledge and state of the art of biopsychosocial factors associated with undernutrition of children under 5 years of age. Methodology: Scientific articles in Spanish and English, describing the factors associated with undernutrition were searched in the Medline, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. Results: A total of 81 studies were selected of which 80,25 % were cross-sectional observational studies. Food insecurity is a factor affecting the health of children. Improving maternal education has a positive impact on the nutrition of children under five years of age. Discussion: Children suffering from undernutrition become lethargic and passive, and are deprived of the stimulation necessary for their proper mental and social development. Conclusion: Understanding the multicausality of undernutrition in children under 5 years of age is necessary to improve human capital in c ommunities.