Households With Undernourished Children and Overweight Mothers: Is This a Concern for Haiti?

The coexistence of child malnutrition and adult overweight/obesity typifies rapid nutrition transition and is likely widespread in poor urban populations. This cross-sectional study assessed households’ anthropometric profile and socio-economic characteristics in a shantytown in Haiti. Out of 203 sampled households, 14% had a malnourished child (<10 years) and an overweight mother. Overweight mother households (32%) had a better socio-economic status, irrespective of child nutritional status, than those with malnourished mothers and children (7%), or with malnourished children only (36%). In very poor urban settings, the coexistence of child malnutrition-maternal overweight/obesity may be primarily observed in relatively better-off households.