Abstract
Background: During the last 10 years, the prevalence of underweight has decreased considerably in Kazakhstan and, nowadays, it is set under 3% for children under 5 years old. However, the prevalence of overweight, which was not important at all in the 90s, is reaching 10% for children under 5 nowadays. This means that there is a co-existence between being underweight and overweight in the same country and, in some cases, within the same region. In order to design policies addressing both problems and avoiding policies, which may solve underweight but worsening overweight, and vice versa, the aim of this paper is to analyse the socioeconomic determinants of the two problems. Methods: We estimate the probability of occurrence using the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) collected by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the years 2006, 2010-2011 and 2015. This survey includes a questionnaire for children younger than 5 years old containing information on maternal and child health. We consider that a child is overweight if she/he falls over two standard deviations of the World Health Organization standards (WHO) for her/his age. Similarly, we consider that a child is underweight if she/he falls below the two standard deviations of the WHO standards. Results: Children of mothers with higher education have a higher probability of being overweight (6,8%) and less probability of being underweight (-5,5%). This effect disappears for children older than 2 years old. Children of Russian origin and other ethnic groups show a lower probability of being overweight in comparison with their Kazakh peers. Being born in the highest wealth quintile reduces the risk of a child under 2 years old being underweight (-2,9%). On the other side, children in rich families at age 2-4 years old have a higher probability of being overweight (3,7%). Conclusion: Health policy aimed to improve family and institution´s knowledge on child nutrition could be effective measures to reduce infant overweight.
Highlights
During the last 10 years, the prevalence of underweight has decreased considerably in Kazakhstan and, nowadays, it is set under 3% for children under 5 years old
We will consider that a child is overweight if she/he falls over two standard deviations of the World Health Organization standards (WHO) for her/his age
We consider that a child is underweight if she/he falls below the two standard deviations of the WHO standards
Summary
During the last 10 years, the prevalence of underweight has decreased considerably in Kazakhstan and, nowadays, it is set under 3% for children under 5 years old. The prevalence of overweight, which was not important at all in the 90s, is reaching 10% for children under 5 nowadays This means that there is a co-existence between being underweight and overweight in the same country and, in some cases, within the same region. In order to design policies addressing both problems and avoiding policies, which may solve underweight but worsening overweight, and vice versa, the aim of this paper is to analyse the socioeconomic determinants of the two problems. The prevalence of overweight, which was not important at all in the 90s, is reaching 10% for children under 5, nowadays (Fig. 1) Results are analysed and we draw some conclusions in the last section
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
