Objective

This study investigated the prevalence and factors of concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) in Cambodian children aged 6–59 months.
Methods
This cross-sectional analysis of the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey from 2021 to 2022 included 3,420 children aged 6–59 months and a subsample of 1,237 aged 6–23 months for whom dietary indicators were available. WaSt was defined as height-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores below −2 standard deviations according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Standards. Dietary indicators followed 2021 WHO/UNICEF infant and young child feeding definitions. Survey-weighted logistic regression was employed in Stata 18.0, with statistical significance set at P<0.05.
Results
The prevalence rates were 22.4% for stunting, 9.3% for wasting, and 2.1% for WaSt. The odds of WaSt were higher among children with low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92–12.63), those born to underweight mothers (AOR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.06–5.56), and those from the poorest wealth tertile (AOR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.14–5.31). Contrarily, the odds were lower among girls (AOR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28–0.97) and children of mothers who were overweight or obese (AOR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.10–0.65). No dietary indicator was associated with WaSt, although power was limited by few cases (n=21).
Conclusion
WaSt was independently associated with low birth weight, maternal underweight, and household poverty, whereas no significant association with dietary indicators was observed. Integrated programs targeting maternal nutrition, birth outcomes, and poverty in vulnerable households are warranted.