Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Health and nutritional status of children in Ethiopia: do maternal characteristics matter?

Abdu Kedir Seid1

  • 1Copenhagen University, Denmark.

Journal of Biosocial Science
|August 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Maternal characteristics significantly impact child health and nutrition in Ethiopia. Improving maternal education is key to enhancing the nutritional status of children under five.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science
  • Demography

Background:

  • Child health and nutrition in Ethiopia remain critical issues despite recent progress.
  • Understanding socioeconomic determinants is vital for effective interventions.
  • Maternal factors are key influencers of child well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of maternal characteristics on the health and nutritional status of children under five in Ethiopia.
  • To analyze the relationship between maternal attributes and child anthropometric indicators.
  • To provide evidence for targeted public health strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data.
  • Employed ordinary least squares (OLS) for initial estimations.
  • Applied instrumental variable (2SLS) and quantile regression (QR) for robust analysis.
  • Measured child health and nutrition using height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) indicators.

Main Results:

  • Maternal characteristics were found to significantly affect child health and nutritional status.
  • Instrumenting maternal education (2SLS) revealed a slightly amplified impact on child nutrition.
  • Quantile regression (QR) demonstrated that maternal influences differ for long-term versus current child nutritional status.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal characteristics are significant determinants of child health and nutrition in Ethiopia.
  • Maternal education plays a crucial role, with its impact potentially underestimated in simpler models.
  • Interventions should consider the nuanced effects of maternal factors on different aspects of child nutritional status.

More Related Videos

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...