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Determinants of child wasting in Bhutan. Insights from nationally representative data

Víctor M Aguayo1, Nina Badgaiyan1, Laigden Dzed2

  • 11UNICEF,Regional Office for South Asia,PO Box 5815,Lekhnath Marg,Kathmandu,Nepal.

Public Health Nutrition
|August 31, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Wasting is more prevalent in infants aged 0-11 months and boys in Bhutan. Poor feeding practices, including inadequate complementary feeding, significantly predict wasting and severe wasting in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Child Health Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood wasting remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in low-income countries.
  • Understanding the epidemiological patterns and predictors of wasting is crucial for effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the epidemiology of wasting in children aged 0-23 months in Bhutan.
  • To identify key predictors of wasting, severe wasting, and poor weight-for-height.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a nationally representative sample of 2028 children from the 2010 Multiple Indicator Survey in Bhutan.
  • Statistical analysis to determine prevalence, regional disparities, and predictors of wasting, including feeding practices.

Main Results:

  • Wasting prevalence was higher in infants (0-11 months) and boys compared to older children and girls, respectively.
  • Children in the Western region had significantly higher odds of being wasted.
  • Poor feeding practices, including prelacteal feeds and inadequate complementary feeding, were strong predictors of wasting and severe wasting, especially in infants.

Conclusions:

  • Intervention programs for severe wasting should prioritize infants (0-11 months) in the Western region.
  • Prevention programs must focus on improving complementary feeding practices for children aged 6-23 months to reduce the incidence of wasting.
Abstract

Keywords:
BhutanChild feedingChildrenSevere wastingWasting

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