Olalekan A Uthman1. 1. Center for Evidence-Based Global Health, Save the Youth Initiative, Nigeria. uthlekan@cebglobalhealth.org
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Protein energy malnutrition is the second most important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria after infections. The purpose of this article was to develop and test a model of childhood malnutrition that includes individual-level characteristics along with contextual characteristics defined at the community level. DESIGN: Multilevel logistic regression analysis. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A total of 4007 children resident in 96 rural villages in Nigeria. MAIN OUTCOME: Stunting: height-for-age that is less than the international reference value by >2 standard deviations (SDs). MAIN RESULTS: Independent of other factors, children born to underweight mothers were 1.32-times more likely to be stunted [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.64]. For each additional month of breastfeeding the odds of being stunted increased by 4% (aOR 1.04; 95% CI 1.03-1.06). Each SD increase in the household wealth index and maternal health-seeking behaviour index decreased the odds of being stunted by 16% (aOR 0.84; 95% CI 0.76-0.94) and 29% (aOR 0.71; 95% CI 0.60 -0.82), respectively. CONCLUSION: The study has provided evidence that both individual and community characteristics are important predictors of childhood malnutrition in rural Nigeria; and that scholars trying to understand variation in childhood malnutrition should pay attention to the characteristics of both children and place of residence.
BACKGROUND: Protein energy malnutrition is the second most important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria after infections. The purpose of this article was to develop and test a model of childhood malnutrition that includes individual-level characteristics along with contextual characteristics defined at the community level. DESIGN: Multilevel logistic regression analysis. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A total of 4007 children resident in 96 rural villages in Nigeria. MAIN OUTCOME: Stunting: height-for-age that is less than the international reference value by >2 standard deviations (SDs). MAIN RESULTS: Independent of other factors, children born to underweight mothers were 1.32-times more likely to be stunted [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.64]. For each additional month of breastfeeding the odds of being stunted increased by 4% (aOR 1.04; 95% CI 1.03-1.06). Each SD increase in the household wealth index and maternal health-seeking behaviour index decreased the odds of being stunted by 16% (aOR 0.84; 95% CI 0.76-0.94) and 29% (aOR 0.71; 95% CI 0.60 -0.82), respectively. CONCLUSION: The study has provided evidence that both individual and community characteristics are important predictors of childhood malnutrition in rural Nigeria; and that scholars trying to understand variation in childhood malnutrition should pay attention to the characteristics of both children and place of residence.
Authors: Victor T Adekanmbi; Sulaimon T Adedokun; Sian Taylor-Phillips; Olalekan A Uthman; Aileen Clarke Journal: Prev Med Date: 2016-12-28 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Ana María Osorio; Gustavo Alfonso Romero; Harold Bonilla; Luis Fernando Aguado Journal: Rev Saude Publica Date: 2018-07-26 Impact factor: 2.106
Authors: Daniel Adedayo Adeyinka; Nazeem Muhajarine; Pammla Petrucka; Elon Warnow Isaac Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-10-27 Impact factor: 3.295