Risk factors associated with under-five stunting, wasting, and underweight in four provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo: analysis of the ASSP project baseline data.
BMC Public Health
; 22(1): 2422, 2022 12 23.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36564730
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Determining the magnitude and risk factors of undernutrition in a country that has one of the highest prevalence of undernutrition in the world is paramount for developing contextual interventions.METHODS:
This study used baseline data from the ASSP project to estimate prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight in four provinces of DRC. It involved 3911 children aged 0-59 months old and mother pairs. Height-for-age Z scores, Weight-for-height Z scores, and Weight-for-age Z scores were calculated and used to classify child stunting, wasting and underweight respectively, based on the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference. Hierarchical logistic regressions were used to identify risk factors associated with stunting, wasting and underweight. All analyses were conducted using STATA 15.1, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS:
The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 42.7%, 21.9% and 8.2% respectively. Increasing child's age was a risk factor associated with stunting and underweight, while sex was not associated with the 3 indicators of undernutrition. Low levels of mother's education, mothers working in the last 12 months prior to the survey, children living in the province of Kasai occidental, children born at a health facility, children perceived by their mothers to be born very small were associated with higher risks of stunting. Factors associated with underweight were children from the province of Kasai occidental, mothers who worked in the last 12 months prior to the survey, and children perceived to be born very small or small by their mothers. Children born to mothers aged 35-49 years and children breastfed in combination with drinking water were at higher risk of wasting.CONCLUSION:
Prevalence of undernutrition in DRC is high. This study has identified certain modifiable risk factors associated with stunting, wasting and underweight. To reduce the burden of undernutrition in DRC, authorities should target factors at individual and community levels by improving women's education, child feeding practices and promoting agriculture.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Síndrome de Emaciação
/
Desnutrição
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
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Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Newborn
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Public Health
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos