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Socioeconomic inequality in malnutrition in developing countries
Ellen Van de Poel1, Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor, Niko Speybroeck
1Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands. vandepoel@few.eur.nl
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|April 29, 2008
Summary
Childhood malnutrition shows socioeconomic inequality globally, disproportionately affecting the poor. This inequality is not linked to average malnutrition rates, highlighting social injustice and the need for targeted policies.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Childhood malnutrition remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing nations.
- Socioeconomic factors are known to influence health outcomes, including nutritional status in children.
- Understanding the patterns and extent of socioeconomic inequality in malnutrition is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate socioeconomic inequality in childhood malnutrition (stunting and wasting) across developing countries.
- To examine the association between socioeconomic inequality and the average level of malnutrition.
- To identify and describe different patterns of socioeconomic inequality in childhood malnutrition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized new World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards for stunting and wasting measurements.
- Estimated socioeconomic status using principal component analysis based on household assets and living conditions.
- Employed an alternative concentration index to measure socioeconomic inequality, addressing dependence on the mean malnutrition level.
Main Results:
- Stunting and wasting disproportionately impacted impoverished populations in most studied countries.
- Socioeconomic inequality in wasting was less pronounced and not statistically significant in approximately one-third of nations.
- No clear association was found between average stunting levels and socioeconomic inequality after adjusting for the concentration index's mean dependence.
- Distinct patterns of inequality were identified: mass deprivation, queuing, and exclusion.
- Estimates of socioeconomic inequality remained largely consistent despite changes in growth standards, even with higher average malnutrition levels under new WHO standards.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic inequality in childhood malnutrition is prevalent globally and independent of average malnutrition rates.
- Addressing this inequality is a matter of social justice, as reducing overall malnutrition does not guarantee a reduction in inequality.
- Policies must consider the distribution of childhood malnutrition across all socioeconomic strata to ensure equitable health outcomes.
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