Determinants of household-, maternal- and child-related factors associated with nutritional status among children under five in Mali: evidence from a Demographic and Health Survey, 2018.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to determine household-, maternal- and child-related factors influencing nutritional status among children under five in Mali. DESIGN: Quantitative cross-sectional study using secondary data extracted from Mali DHS-VI 2018. SETTING: Urban and rural areas of Mali. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8908 children participated, with 3999 in the younger age group (0-24 months) and 4909 in the older age group (25-59 months). RESULTS: In the younger age group, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was 18·8 % (95 % CI%: 17·5, 20·0), 24·6 % (95 % CI: 23·2, 26·0) and 13·2 % (95 % CI: 12·1, 14·3), respectively, while in the older age group, it was 24·9 % (95 % CI: 23·7, 26·2), 22·7 % (95 % CI: 21·5, 24·0) and 5·7 % (95 % CI: 5·0, 6·5), respectively. Being average or large size at birth, having piped source of water, receiving Zn, deworming, high maternal BMI, receiving Fe during pregnancy, higher maternal education and being rich were associated with lower odds of one or more form of undernutrition in both groups. On the other hand, children who were anaemic, drank from a bottle, maternal anaemia, current pregnancy of mothers and living in rural areas were associated with higher odds of stunting, wasting or underweight. Interestingly, children who received Fe supplementation had a higher odds of wasting in the younger group but lower odds of all forms of undernutrition in the older group. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasised the potential risk factors associated with undernutrition in children. Children who consume non-potable water, have mothers with lower levels of education and BMI and reside in rural areas are more likely to experience undernutrition.

Prevalence and contributing factors of anaemia among children aged 6-24 months and 25-59 months in Mali.

Although considerable global initiatives have been undertaken to tackle anaemia, its prevalence continues to be high in sub-Saharan African nations. In Mali specifically, anaemia represents a significant and pressing public health issue. The purpose of the present study was to examine the key risk factors related to anaemia among children aged 6-24 months (younger age group) and 25-59 months (older age group). We used the Mali 2018 Demographic and Health Survey data, collected from 8861 mothers with children under five. Logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors for childhood anaemia. The results suggest that the prevalence of anaemia was 88 % in the younger and 76 % in the older age groups. The risk factors unique to the younger age group were malaria (OR 4⋅05; CI 0⋅95, 11⋅3) and place of residence (OR 0⋅55; CI 0⋅32, 0⋅94), while for the older age group, they were morbidity (OR 1⋅91; CI 1⋅12, 3⋅24), drinking from a bottle (OR 1⋅52; CI 1⋅04, 2⋅22), and micronutrient intake (OR 0⋅61; CI 0⋅40, 0⋅91). Risk factors that significantly contributed to both age groups include breastfeeding, deworming, maternal anaemia, maternal education, and wealth index. Anaemia also varied by region. The widespread prevalence of anaemia can be attributed to a multitude of factors. In addressing this issue, it is imperative to acknowledge the unique characteristics of specific regions and rural areas, where the incidence of anaemia surpasses the national average. Therefore, any intervention efforts should be tailored to the specific needs and challenges of these areas.