Prevalence and predictors of underweight and stunting among children under 2 years of age in Eastern Kenya

Predictors of under-weight among children younger than 24 months in Nimule Border Town, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan: a community-based cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Underweight is a public health problem globally, and more severe in South Sudan with wide sub-regional differences. In Nimule border town, which represents other border towns in South Sudan, data on underweight among children below two years is unavailable. Thus, this study set out to assess predictors of underweight among children younger than 24 months in Nimule border town, Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Nimule boarder town targeting 390 children younger than two years. Systematic sampling and simple random sampling methods were used. Data were collected through a researcher-administered questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions. Data was entered in EpiData and then exported into Statistical Package for Social Sciences research (SPSS) version 20 for analysis. Descriptive data analysis was conducted and data were summarized into frequencies and percentages, means with standard deviations, and medians with interquartile ranges. Bivariate analysis was conducted with the Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests for categorical independent variables, and the student's t-test for numerical variables. Finally, multivariate analysis was done via logistic regression analysis and results were stated as odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The level of statistical significance was set at 5%.

RESULTS

Out of the total 390 participants, 112 (28.7%) were under weight. The study showed primary (aOR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.12-1.18; P = 0.095) and secondary (aOR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.12-1.17; P = 0.091 levels of education were associated with underweight but not tertiary level of education (aOR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.21-2.74; p = 0.671). Household income of 5000 to 10,000 (aOR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.10-0.68; P = 0.006) and above 10,000 (aOR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.28; P < 0.001) South Sudanese pounds, supplementary feeding before 6 months (aOR; 0.01; 95% CI, 0.02-0.05; P < 0.001) were associated with underweight and irregular hand washing (aOR; 2.17; 95% CI, 1.14-4.11; P = 0.018) was associated with increased odds of underweight.

CONCLUSIONS

This study established a high prevalence of underweight. Maternal level of education particularly primary, secondary, higher household incomes in excess of 5,000 South Sudanese pounds reduced the risk of underweight. While irregular hand washing was a risk factor for underweight.

Factors related to stunting in children under 2 years old in the Papua, Indonesia: Does the type of residence matter?

OBJECTIVES

To analyze factors related to stunting in Papua region.

METHODS

Secondary data from the 2021 Indonesian National Nutrition Status Survey were used in this study. Samples of 2,937 Papuan children under the age of two were gathered for the study. This study analyzed independent variables (type of residence, mother's age, marriage, mother's education, employment, wealth, child's age, gender, and early breastfeeding initiation (EBFI) with stunting. The relationship was analyzed using logistic regression tests.

RESULTS

Stunting is more common among children in Papua's rural areas than in urban (AOR 1.168, 95% CI, 1.128-1.209). Stunting is more common in children who mother do not work than in mothers who do (AOR 1.174, 95% CI, 1.142- 1.207). Stunting is more common in children aged 12-23 months compared to children <12 months (AOR 3.381, 95% CI, 3.291-3.474). Compared to girls, boys are more likely to become stunted (AOR 1.348, 95% CI, 1,314-1,383). Children under the age of two who do not experience EBFI are at higher risk than those who have (AOR 1.078, 95% CI, 1.050-1.106).

CONCLUSION

There are eight variables associated with stunting, namely residence, age of mother, mother's education, mother's occupation, economic status, child's age, gender, and EBFI. Prioritization of stunting interventions in Papua should be targeted at mothers who living in rural, having low education, and not doing early breastfeeding initiation.

Pooled prevalence and its determinants of stunting among children during their critical period in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Stunting is a major public health concern, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Globally, nearly 149 million under-five children are suffering from stunting. Despite it can occur in all age groups, the impact is more severe among children age less than 24 months as this period is critical time of very rapid growth and development. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and determinants of stunting among children during this critical period in Ethiopia.

METHODS

The literature search was conducted using international electronic data bases (pumed, Google scholar, CINHAL, Hinari, open Google) and the hand search of reference lists of eligible articles. The presence of heterogeneity between studies was evaluated using Cochrane Q-test and I2 test statistics and sensitivity analysis was also checked. Small study effect was checked through graphical and statistical test. Sub-group analysis was performed to handle heterogeneity.

RESULTS

This study included 14 studies with a total sample size of 8,056 children. The overall pooled estimate of stunting was 35.01(95% CI: 24.73-45.28, I2 = 98.98%) in the country with the highest prevalence in Amhara region. Increased Child's age (OR = 3.83; 95% CI: 2.47-5.18, I2 = 97.76%), no maternal education (OR = 2.90; 95%CI: 1.59-4.20, I2 = 89.73%), no maternal postnatal follow up (OR = 1.81; 95% CI:1.51-2.10) less than four food diversity of the child (OR = 2.24;95%CI; 1.94-2.55,I2 = 21.55%), low maternal body mass index, failure to colostrum and exclusive breast feeding, two and more under five children in the household and poor wealth index of the family were significant factors of stunting.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The pooled prevalence of stunting among children during their critical time is high. Increased Child's age, no maternal education and no maternal postnatal follow up, less than four food diversity of the child, low maternal body mass index, failure to colostrum and exclusive breast feeding, two and more under five children in the household and poor wealth index of the family were determinants of stunting. Therefore, providing continuous maternal postnatal follow up, increase awareness of mothers on importance of colostrum and exclusive breast feeding, feeding of children the recommended variety of foods and at large to improve the wealth status of the households are crucial interventions to meet national and international targets of zero stunting in children less than 2 years.

Impact of floods on undernutrition among children under five years of age in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Weather and climate-related disasters, including floods, impact undernutrition through multiple pathways, including food security, inadequate child care practices, and water and sanitation. This review aimed to provide systematic evidence of the impact of floods on undernutrition in children under five years of age in Low and Middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus for peer-reviewed articles. Popline, WHO Library database (WHOLIS), the International Disaster database (EM-DAT), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UNICEF and Eldis were searched for grey literature articles. Database searches were first conducted in 2016 and updated in 2020. We included English language articles that reported the effect of floods on undernutrition outcomes in children under 5 years of age in LMICs, without limitation to study design and year of publication. The quality of selected studies was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.

RESULTS

Of the 5701 articles identified, 14 met our inclusion criteria. The review noted stunting as the most frequently reported significant form of undernutrition in flood-affected areas. Severe and recurrent floods showed the greatest impact on undernutrition. Due to weak and limited evidence, the study is inconclusive on the most significant forms within the short-term and intermediate periods following floods. On the other hand, stunting was noted as the most frequently reported significant form of undernutrition in the long-term period following floods. There was generally little evidence of the effect of floods on micronutrient deficiencies. Factors associated with child undernutrition in the flood-affected areas included age, gender, diarrhoea, maternal and paternal education, maternal age, household size, land ownership and socioeconomic status. Overall, the quality of the evidence was fairly weak, with the main challenge lying in the inability of the studies to establish causal pathways for the observed effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The review suggests clear plans and strategies for preventing and reducing the long-term impact of floods on undernutrition in children under five years. Future research utilising long-term prospective data is indispensable to provide more robust evidence to guide better prevention measures, response decisions and interventions.

Stunting and Associated Factors Among 6-23 Months Age Children in Ethiopia: Application of Generalized Linear Latent and Mixed Modeling

Low height/length-for-age (stunting) is a public health problem in Ethiopia. Efforts that have been made to evaluate factors affecting national and international strategies related to the problem are very limited and poorly achieved. The present study aimed to evaluate low length/height-for-age (stunting) and its associated factors among children 6 to 23 months of age in Ethiopia. We used cross-sectional data collected for 2019 EMDHS. We cleaned, processed, and analyzed in Stata v.15. Socio-demographic, socio-economic parameters, and nutritional (wasting, diet frequency, breast milk, and animal milk) factors were used in the analysis. We fitted Generalized Linear Latent and Mixed Model (GLLAMM) to examine the associations. We analyzed the data of 2,037 children aged 6-23 months and found stunting of 933.07(45.80%). Some factors such as home delivery [coef. = -4.58, 95% CI:-7.81,-1.34] and household size of ≥6 [coef. = -5.53, 95% CI:-10.36,-7.10] were positively associated. No current breastfeeding [coef. = 10.70, 95% CI: 2.16, 19.23] and still breastfeed [coef. = 10.68, 95% CI: 2.62, 18.74] were negatively associated with stunting. Stunting among 6-23 months aged children in Ethiopia is very high above all the national, regional, and international targets. Feeding practice, socio-economic, and psychosocial-support for mothers need revised commitment for pragmatic solution.

The Association of Feeding Practices and Sociodemographic Factors on Underweight and Wasting in Children in Ethiopia: A Secondary Analysis of Four Health Surveys from 2000 to 2016

BACKGROUND

Feeding practices highly influence the nutritional status of children between 6 and 23 months of age in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the association of feeding practices and sociodemographic factors on underweight and wasting of children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Data on 8003 children 6-23 months of age from four Ethiopia demographic and health surveys (EDHS) from 2000 to 2016 were analyzed using complex sample crosstabs for multivariate analysis. The association of feeding practices and sociodemographic factors on underweight and wasting was assessed via multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting the covariates. The outcomes were reported based on the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Male children, very small at birth size children, diarrhea and fever, and short stature mother were risk factors for underweight and wasting (p < 0.05-0.001). Also, minimum dietary diversity, rich and middle-income families, vitamin A in the previous 6 months and antenatal care visits during pregnancy were protective factors for both underweight and wasting (p < 0.05-0.001). Minimum meal frequency was significantly related to lower odds of wasting (p < 0.001). Higher age of the child was significantly associated with underweight (p < 0.05-0.001); however, it was less likely wasted (p < 0.05-0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present study depicted that among infant young children feeding core indicators except breastfed, all the other indicators did not met the required standard; however, sociodemographic factors on four health surveys from 2000 to 2016 were associated with underweight and wasting in children in Ethiopia.

LAY SUMMARY

• Over the years the prevalence of underweight in children aged 6-23 months in the country has shown a significant improvement from 40.2% in 2000 to 34.7% in 2005, then further reduced to 28.9% and 20.0% in 2011 and 2016 EDHS, respectively.• In the same manner, the prevalence of wasting in children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia also observed improvement from 18.9% in 2000 to 16.7% in 2005, then further reduced to 15.4% and 13.9% in 2011 and 2016 EDHS, respectively.• Male children, very small at birth size children, diarrhea and fever (for the last 2 weeks), and short stature mother were risk factors for underweight and wasting.• Minimum dietary diversity, rich and middle-income families, vitamin A in the previous 6 months and antenatal care visits during pregnancy were protective factors for both underweight and wasting.• Minimum meal frequency was significantly related to lower odds of wasting.• Higher age of the children was significantly associated with underweight; however, less likely wasted.

Maternal factors associated with moderate and severe stunting in Ethiopian children: analysis of some environmental factors based on 2016 demographic health survey

Background

Stunting or chronic undernutrition is a significant public health problem in Ethiopia. In 2019, 37% of Ethiopian children under-5 were stunted. Stunting results from a complex interaction of individual, household and social (environmental) factors. Improving the mother’s overall care is the most important determinant in reducing the stunting levels in developing countries. We aimed to determine the most important maternal factors associated with stunting and quantify their effects.

Methods

This study used data from the nationally representative 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS). Common maternal factors were first selected and analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square of association followed by multiple logistic regression. To quantify the effect of a unit change of a predictor variable a model for the continuous maternal factors was developed. All analyses were carried out using IBM SPSS© Version 23.

Results

Higher maternal educational level, better maternal autonomy, average or above maternal height and weight, having at least 4 antenatal care (ANC) clinic visits, and delivering in a health facility were significantly associated with lower severe stunting levels. Unemployed mothers were 23% less likely (p = 0.003) to have a stunted child compared with employed mothers. Mothers delivering at home had 32% higher odds of stunting (p = 0.002). We found that short mothers (< 150 cm) were 2.5 more likely to have stunted children when compared with mothers above 160 cm. Every visit to the ANC clinic reduces stunting odds by 6.8% (p <  0.0001). The odds of stunting were reduced by 7% (p = 0.028) for every grade a girl spent in school. A unit increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) reduced the odds of stunting by 4% (p = 0.014) and every centimeter increase in maternal height reduced the odds of stunting by 0.5% (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Maternal education, number of antenatal care visits, and place of delivery appear to be the most important predictors of child stunting in Ethiopia.. Therefore, educating and empowering women, improving access to family planning and ANC services, and addressing maternal malnutrition are important factors that should be included in policies aiming to reduce childhood stunting in Ethiopia.