PhD Degree Awarded to Researcher Ibrahim Abdulatif Al-Shawkani in Population Studies
Researcher Ibrahim Abdulatif Mohammed Al-Shawkani was awarded a PhD degree in Population Studies for his dissertation titled: Anthropometric Measurements of Malnutrition Indicators and Their Association with Demographic and Social Factors among Children under Five in Mountainous and Coastal Areas of Yemen: A Case Study of the Capital Secretariat and Hodeidah City, which was submitted to the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC)–Sana’a University. The dissertation defense was held on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
• Assoc. Prof. Nasser Ali Al-Bada’i – Sana’a University – Internal Examiner and Committee Chair.
• Prof. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Haddad – Sana’a University – Main Supervisor and Committee Member.
• Dr. Tareq Yahya Al-Kebsi – Co-Supervisor.
• Assoc. Prof. Ahmed Hamoud Al-Shahdhi – 21 September University – External Examiner and Committee Member..
The study aimed to measure differences in malnutrition indicators among children under five between mountainous areas, represented by the Capital Secretariat, and coastal areas, represented by Hodeidah City, and to identify the demographic, social, and health factors associated with these indicators.
The findings showed markedly higher overall and severe malnutrition indicators in the coastal area of Hodeidah City compared with the mountainous area of the Capital Secretariat, as follows:
• Overall underweight: 69.7% in Hodeidah City compared with 52.5% in the Capital Secretariat; severe underweight: 36.1% compared with 24.7%.
• Overall stunting: 58.1% in Hodeidah City compared with 48.8% in the Capital Secretariat; severe stunting: 25.7% compared with 20.0%.
• Overall wasting (weight-for-height): 47.7% in Hodeidah City compared with 28.4% in the Capital Secretariat; severe wasting: 15.3% compared with 7.2%.
• Overall wasting (mid-upper arm circumference): 44.2% in Hodeidah City compared with 14.9% in the Capital Secretariat; severe wasting: 13.2% compared with 5.1%.
The study found that several demographic, social, and health factors were statistically significantly associated with malnutrition indicators.
From a demographic perspective, the most prominent factors included the city or place of residence, which was a common and influential factor across all indicators, as well as the child’s age and birth order, the caregiver’s age, and type of housing.
From a social perspective, malnutrition indicators were associated with the educational level of the father and mother or caregiver, the mother’s employment status, and the household’s average monthly expenditure.
Regarding health-related factors, the study identified associations with breastfeeding practices, number of meals, immunization doses, family history of malnutrition, and the child’s experience of certain illnesses, particularly diarrhea, fever, and cough or respiratory tract infections.
The study recommended directing relief and awareness programs more intensively toward coastal areas in light of their higher malnutrition rates compared with mountainous areas. It also recommended focusing on improving the living and health conditions of mothers and developing primary healthcare services provided to children.
The dissertation defense was attended by a number of academics, postgraduate students, researchers, as well as the researcher’s colleagues and family members.
