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Exploring the Association Between Household Toilet Facility Type and Chronic Malnutrition in Children Under 5 years

John Baptist K Dorzie1, Dennis Chirawurah1, Michael Boah2,3

  • 1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.

Environmental Health Insights
|January 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Childhood stunting is linked to open defecation. Improving sanitation access, maternal education, and nutrition is crucial for reducing stunting rates in vulnerable children.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Childhood stunting remains a significant global health challenge, impacting millions of children.
  • Limited access to improved sanitation facilities, including latrines, is prevalent in many low-income regions.
  • Understanding the specific impact of sanitation types on stunting is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between household latrine access type and childhood stunting.
  • To identify risk factors for stunting in children under five in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Ghana.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving mother-child pairs (children 0-59 months).
  • Data collected in health facilities, analyzing stunting (outcome) and household sanitation type (exposure).
  • Bivariable and multivariable analyses were employed to determine associations.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of stunting was 28.5%.
  • Open defecation (43.1%) was associated with more than double the odds of stunting compared to improved sanitation.
  • Significant risk factors included male sex, low birth weight, and lower maternal education.

Conclusions:

  • Household sanitation type, particularly open defecation, is a significant risk factor for childhood stunting.
  • Integrated strategies addressing sanitation, maternal education, and child nutrition are essential.
  • Interventions should focus on improving access to improved sanitation facilities to reduce stunting prevalence.

Keywords:
childrenchronic malnutritionnorthern Ghanastuntingupper east region

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