Abstract
South Asia continues to be the global hub for child undernutrition with 35% of children still stunted in 2017. This paper aimed to identify factors associated with stunting among children aged 0–23 months, 24–59 months, and 0–59 months in South Asia. A weighted sample of 564,518 children aged 0–59 months from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (2014–2018) was combined of five countries in South Asia. Multiple logistic regression analyses that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to examine associated factors. The common factors associated with stunting in three age groups were mothers with no schooling ([adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for 0–23 months = 1.65; 95% CI: (1.29, 2.13)]; [AOR for 24–59 months = AOR = 1.46; 95% CI: (1.27, 1. 69)] and [AOR for 0–59 months = AOR = 1.59; 95% CI: (1.34, 1. 88)]) and maternal short stature (height < 150 cm) ([AOR for 0–23 months = 2.00; 95% CI: (1.51, 2.65)]; [AOR for 24–59 months = 3.63; 95% CI: (2.87, 4.60)] and [AOR for 0–59 months = 2.87; 95% CI: (2.37, 3.48)]). Study findings suggest the need for a balanced and integrated nutrition strategy that incorporates nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions with an increased focus on interventions for children aged 24–59 months.
Highlights
Inadequate nutritional status of children is a significant public health problem in low and middle-income regions (LMICs) around the world [1]
Our research found children aged 0–23 months and 0–59 months, who were delivered at home were at higher odds of being stunted when compared to those born in a health facility
This study indicated mother’s education and maternal height were the most significant factors associated with stunting
Summary
Inadequate nutritional status of children is a significant public health problem in low and middle-income regions (LMICs) around the world [1]. Recent estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases indicate that, globally, stunting declined from 36.9% in 2000 to 26.6% in 2017 [2]. Africa and Central Asia, continue to have the highest prevalence of stunting [2]. The prevalence of stunting in South Asia declined from 51% (89 million children) in 2000 to 35% (59 million children) in 2017 [3], it is still very high by international standards (well above the prevalence threshold of 30%—a trigger-level as a basis of public health decisions) [4]. Stunting affects immediate growth and development of children with long-term effects as adults [5,6]. Stunting is associated with poor school performance in children and lower work productivity as adults. Stunting in children is Nutrients 2020, 12, 3875; doi:10.3390/nu12123875 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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