OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and the associated risk factors for stunting in Jhangara Town, Dadu Sindh. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jhangara Town, located in district Dadu, rural Sindh. A total of 800 children less than 5 years of age were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to elicit required information and anthropometric measurements were made. RESULTS: The overall prevalence for stunting was 61% in the study population, which was higher than the prevalence reported by Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) 1990/91. In multivariate analysis various risk factors for stunting were ethnicity (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.27- 3.57) and birth interval < two years (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.99). CONCLUSION: A large number of children below 5 years of age were stunted. Ethnicity and birth interval less than 2 years were the important risk factors.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and the associated risk factors for stunting in Jhangara Town, Dadu Sindh. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jhangara Town, located in district Dadu, rural Sindh. A total of 800 children less than 5 years of age were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to elicit required information and anthropometric measurements were made. RESULTS: The overall prevalence for stunting was 61% in the study population, which was higher than the prevalence reported by Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) 1990/91. In multivariate analysis various risk factors for stunting were ethnicity (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.27- 3.57) and birth interval < two years (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.99). CONCLUSION: A large number of children below 5 years of age were stunted. Ethnicity and birth interval less than 2 years were the important risk factors.