What explains the large disparity in child stunting in the Philippines? A decomposition analysis

Valerie Gilbert T Ulep1,2, Jhanna Uy1,3, Lyle Daryll Casas1

  • 1Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 18F Three Cyberpod Centris - North Tower, EDSA Cor. Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines.

Public Health Nutrition
|October 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal factors significantly contribute to the large gap in child stunting between poor and non-poor Filipino children. Addressing maternal health and socio-economic status is crucial for improving child linear growth.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science
  • Socio-economic Determinants of Health

Background:

  • Child stunting affects approximately one-third of Filipino children under five.
  • Significant socio-economic disparities exist in stunting prevalence.
  • Understanding the drivers of this inequality is critical for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify factors explaining the stunting gap between poor and non-poor Filipino children.
  • To identify key determinants of child stunting in the Philippines.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the 2015 Philippine National Nutrition Survey data.
  • Employed a linear probability model to analyze stunting determinants.
  • Applied Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to explain the inequality gap.

Main Results:

  • Overall stunting prevalence was 38.5%, with a notable gap between poor (45.0%) and non-poor (32.0%) children.
  • Maternal height, education, and nutrition status explained 26%, 18%, and 17% of stunting inequality, respectively.
  • Prenatal care quality and dietary diversity each accounted for 12% of the inequality.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal factors collectively explain over 50% of the child stunting gap in the Philippines.
  • Maternal biological and socio-economic circumstances play a pivotal role in children's linear growth.
  • Interventions focused on maternal health and well-being are essential for reducing child stunting.
Abstract

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