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Childhood Malnutrition and Its Determinants among Under-Five Children in Ghana

Justice Moses K Aheto1, Thomas J Keegan1, Benjamin M Taylor1

  • 1Lancaster Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|September 3, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Childhood malnutrition in Ghana is prevalent, with factors like age, breastfeeding, and household conditions influencing outcomes. Addressing identified risks is crucial for improving child health and well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood malnutrition poses significant short- and long-term health and economic challenges globally.
  • In Ghana, malnutrition contributes to approximately 40% of under-five mortality.
  • Limited research exists on the specific determinants of malnutrition in Ghanaian children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition among children under five years old in Ghana.
  • To identify key determinants associated with childhood malnutrition.
  • To inform policymakers and stakeholders on effective interventions for child health and nutrition.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS).
  • Employed multilevel regression analysis on 2083 children under five and 1641 households.
  • Calculated probabilities of malnutrition using multilevel model results.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence rates: 28% moderately stunted, 13% moderately underweight, 8% moderately wasted.
  • Risk factors for malnutrition include older age, shorter breastfeeding, multiple births, diarrhea, small birth size, lack of toilet facilities, poverty, and lack of health insurance.
  • Protective factors include increased maternal education and maternal body mass index.

Conclusions:

  • Identified risk factors must be addressed in policies and interventions to improve child nutrition.
  • Further research is needed to explore unexplained household-level variations in nutritional outcomes.
  • Comprehensive strategies are essential for enhancing childhood nutrition and health in Ghana.
Abstract

Keywords:
childhood malnutritiondeveloping countriesepidemiologymalnutrition determinantsmultilevel modellingnutritional statuspublic healthunder-five children

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