Feeding practices and stunting in children aged 0-23 months in Zambia: analysis of the Zambia demographic and health survey 2013-14 data
Date
2020
Authors
Chanda, Hussen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Stunting is currently one of the prominent health and welfare problems among infants and young children in Zambia. Feeding practices have a bearing on the nutritional status of children. This study aimed to establish the association between feeding practices and stunting among children between 0 and 23 months old in Zambia. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were applied to the 2013/14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey data using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Stunting was found to be increasing with age; reaching the peak (12.8%) among children in the age group 18 -23 months; and lowest (0.4%) among children below one month. Stunting was higher among male children (20.1%) than their female counterparts (15.5%, p < 0.001). Children who were very small at birth had higher odds of being stunted compared to those who were very large, (AOR = 5.61, 95% CI: 2.50, 12.58). Children whose mothers were had 46% higher chances of being stunted than their counterparts whose mothers had normal body size (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.00). Stunting levels significantly declined with improved wealth status from the poorest to the richest (18.7% among the poor and 9.6% among the rich). Among the morbidity variables, the cough was significantly associated with stunting (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.96). The study recommended that there is a need to initiate and support existing programs that promote breastfeeding education to mothers; and the need to improve the living conditions and livelihood of the poorest who are worst affected by stunting. The study also recommended a multisectoral approach to interventions against stunting by taking stock of all relevant actors in the area of nutrition and narrow the interventions to specific drivers of stunting across sectors.
KEYWORDS: children (0-23 months), stunting, feeding practices, ZDHS, Zambia
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Malnutrition in children--Zambia--Prevention. , Infants--Zambia--Growth.
Children--Zambia--Growth.