Risk Factors Associated with Stunting among Children Under Five in Timor-Leste
Kanae Nomura1, Aliza K C Bhandari1,2,3, Emilie Louise Akiko Matsumoto-Takahashi1
1Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke's International University, 3-6-2-5F Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
Insights
Child stunting in Timor-Leste affects nearly 40% of children under five. Key factors include maternal age, height, child
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Child undernutrition, specifically stunting, contributes to nearly 45% of under-five mortality globally.
- Stunting has lasting negative impacts on cognitive and physical development.
- Timor-Leste exhibits the highest prevalence of child stunting in Southeast Asia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of stunting in children under five in Timor-Leste.
- To identify factors associated with child stunting in the region.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study utilizing the 2016 Timor-Leste Demographic and Health Survey data.
- Analysis included examination of stunting prevalence and bivariable/multivariable logistic regression to identify associated factors.
Main Results:
- Nearly 40% of 4,581 children under five were stunted.
- Maternal height (≥145 cm) and female child sex were associated with a lower likelihood of stunting.
- Factors such as wealth index, postnatal care, breastfeeding, child age, and birth size were also significantly associated with stunting.
Conclusions:
- Child stunting in Timor-Leste is significantly linked to maternal and child sociodemographic status.
- Improving health service quality, health worker engagement, and maternal utilization of services is crucial.
Background:
Undernutrition, including stunting, is the cause of almost 45% of all deaths among children under the age of five. It not only affects child growth but also has a long-term negative influence on cognitive and physical abilities. Timor-Leste has the highest prevalence of child stunting in Southeast Asia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of stunting and factors associated with it.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study conducted using the Demographic and Health Survey of 2016 for Timor-Leste. The prevalence of stunting among children under five years of age was examined, and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with stunting.
Results:
Among 4,581 children under five years of age, growth in nearly 40% was stunted. The majority of the mothers with stunted children were of age 20-30 years with about 33% having their first baby at ≤19 years of age. Compared to women of <145 cm of height, those of ≥145 cm height had lower likelihood of having a stunted child (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: [0.48-0.80], p < 0.001). It was also interesting to note that the risk of stunting was lower among female children than male children [OR: 0.75, 95% CI: (0.64-0.88), p < 0.001] in our adjusted model. Similarly, other factors such as wealth index, postnatal care visits, currently breastfeeding, age of the child, and size of the child at birth were also associated with stunting.
Conclusion:
The present findings indicate that child stunting in Timor-Leste is mainly associated with maternal and child sociodemographic status. Hence, it is crucial to identify the quality of services provided by health facilities, the involvement of health workers and volunteers, and the intention of mothers to use the health services in Timor-Leste.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:30Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:22Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...