Peter Austin Morton Ntenda1, Thomas Gabriel Mhone2, Owen Nkoka1. 1. School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wu-Hsing St, Taipei City, Taiwan. 2. Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shiquan 1st Road, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Overweight/obesity in young children is one of the most serious public health issues globally. We examined whether individual- and community-level maternal nutritional status is associated with an early onset of overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children in Malawi. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). The maternal nutritional status as body mass index and childhood overweight/obesity status was assessed by using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. To examine whether the maternal nutritional status is associated with overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children, two-level multilevel logistic regression models were constructed on 4023 children of age less than five years dwelling in 850 different communities. RESULTS: The multilevel regression analysis showed that children born to overweight/obese mothers had increased odds of being overweight/obese [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-8.54]. At the community level, children born to mothers from the middle (aOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.02-2.78) and high (aOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.00-2.90) percentage of overweight/obese women had increased odds of being overweight/obese. In addition, there were significant variations in the odds of childhood overweight/obesity in the communities. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies aimed at reducing childhood overweight/obesity in Malawi should address not only women and their children but also their communities. Appropriate choices of nutrition, diet and physical activity patterns should be emphasized upon in overweight/obese women of childbearing age throughout pregnancy and beyond.
BACKGROUND: Overweight/obesity in young children is one of the most serious public health issues globally. We examined whether individual- and community-level maternal nutritional status is associated with an early onset of overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children in Malawi. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). The maternal nutritional status as body mass index and childhood overweight/obesity status was assessed by using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. To examine whether the maternal nutritional status is associated with overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children, two-level multilevel logistic regression models were constructed on 4023 children of age less than five years dwelling in 850 different communities. RESULTS: The multilevel regression analysis showed that children born to overweight/obese mothers had increased odds of being overweight/obese [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-8.54]. At the community level, children born to mothers from the middle (aOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.02-2.78) and high (aOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.00-2.90) percentage of overweight/obesewomen had increased odds of being overweight/obese. In addition, there were significant variations in the odds of childhood overweight/obesity in the communities. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies aimed at reducing childhood overweight/obesity in Malawi should address not only women and their children but also their communities. Appropriate choices of nutrition, diet and physical activity patterns should be emphasized upon in overweight/obesewomen of childbearing age throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Authors: Marjanne Senekal; Johanna H Nel; Sonia Malczyk; Linda Drummond; Janetta Harbron; Nelia P Steyn Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-09-10 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Valerie L Flax; Chrissie Thakwalakwa; Courtney H Schnefke; John C Phuka; Lindsay M Jaacks Journal: Appetite Date: 2020-08-30 Impact factor: 3.868