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Stunting and severe stunting among children under-5 years in Nigeria: A multilevel analysis

Blessing Jaka Akombi1, Kingsley Emwinyore Agho2, John Joseph Hall3

  • 1School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia. B.Akombi@westernsydney.edu.au.

BMC Pediatrics
|January 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Childhood stunting in Nigeria is linked to male sex, lower household wealth, and poor sanitation. Interventions should address poverty, maternal nutrition, and child feeding for better development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Childhood stunting is a critical risk factor for impaired physical and mental development in children under five.
  • Stunting primarily occurs within the first 1000 days of life (0-23 months) but can persist until age five.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the factors associated with stunting and severe stunting in Nigerian children under five years of age.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 24,529 children (0-59 months) from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
  • Defined stunting (Height-for-age z-scores < -2SD) and severe stunting (HFAz < -3SD) using WHO growth references.
  • Employed multilevel logistic regression analyses, accounting for cluster and survey weights, to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of stunting was 29% (0-23 months) and 36.7% (0-59 months); severe stunting was 16.4% (0-23 months) and 21% (0-59 months).
  • Significant risk factors included male sex, smaller maternal perceived birth size, poorer household wealth, shorter breastfeeding duration, specific geopolitical zones (North East, North West, North Central), and recent diarrhea episodes.

Conclusions:

  • Policy interventions in Nigeria should prioritize poverty alleviation to combat stunting.
  • Improving women's nutrition, child feeding practices, and household sanitation are crucial for reducing stunting and achieving sustainable development goals.
Abstract

Keywords:
MalnutritionMultilevel analysisNigeriaPublic HealthSevere stuntingStunting

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