Dataset Information

Secular trends in low birth weight and child undernutrition in West Africa: evidence from complex nationwide surveys, 1985-2019.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We present prevalence estimates and secular trends of stunting, wasting, underweight, and anaemia among children under 5 years of age and low birth weight (LBW) over the period 1985-2019 in West Africa (WA).

Design

Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and World Bank data. DerSimonian-Laird random effect model with the Knapp-Hartung adjustment to the standard error was used to derive overall prevalence estimates. We used fixed effect ordinary least square regression models with cluster robust standard error to conduct time trends analyses.

Setting

West Africa.

Participants

Children aged 0 to 59 months.

Results

Three distinct periods (1986-1990, 1993-1996 and 1997-2000) of sharp increases in prevalence of all outcomes was observed. After the year 2000, prevalence of all outcomes except LBW started to decline with some fluctuations. LBW prevalence showed a steady increase after 2000. We observed a decline in prevalence of stunting (β = -0·20 %; 95 % CI -0·43 %, 0·03 %), log-wasting (β = -0·02 %; 95 % CI -0·02 %, -0·01 %), log-underweight (β = -0·02 %; 95 % CI -0·03 %, -0·01 %) anaemia (β = -0·44; 95 % CI -0·55 %, -0·34 %), and an increase in LBW (β = 0·06 %; 95 % CI -0·10 %, 0·22 %) in WA over the period. Pooled prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight, anaemia and LBW in WA for the period 1985-2019 was 26·1 %, 16·4 %, 22·7 %, 76·2 % and 11·3 %, respectively.

Conclusions

Child undernutrition prevalence varied greatly between countries and the year cohorts. We observed marginal reductions in prevalence of all outcomes except anaemia where the reductions were quite striking and LBW where an increase was noted. There is the need for more rigorous and sustained targeted interventions in WA.

SUBMITTER: Dwomoh D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9991671 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Secular trends in low birth weight and child undernutrition in West Africa: evidence from complex nationwide surveys, 1985-2019.

Dwomoh Duah D Sewor Christian C Mohammed Seidu Awal SA Annim Samuel S Stranges Saverio S Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin NB Amegah A Kofi AK

Public health nutrition 20220118 9

<h4>Objective</h4>We present prevalence estimates and secular trends of stunting, wasting, underweight, and anaemia among children under 5 years of age and low birth weight (LBW) over the period 1985-2019 in West Africa (WA).<h4>Design</h4>Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and World Bank data. DerSimonian-Laird random effect model with the Knapp-Hartung adjustment to the standard error was used to derive overall prevalence estimates. We used fixed effect ordinary least square regre ...[more]

PMID: 35039103

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundMalnutrition remains one of the major public health concerns globally. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2 which seeks to ensure that hunger and malnutrition are reduced by 2030, it is imperative to ascertain the factors influencing their occurrence. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with mother-child dyads of overnutrition and undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsDemographic and Health Survey data from 25 sub-Saharan African countries were used for the study. The sample was made up of 125,280 mother-child dyads. Descriptive analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of overweight or obese mother (OWOBM) with a stunted child (OWOBM-SC), OWOBM with an underweight child (OWOBM-UC), OWOBM with a wasted child (OWOBM-WC), and OWOBM with any form of child's undernutrition indicators (OWOBM-SUWC). Multilevel regression models were developed to examine the factors associated with these indicators. The results were presented using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsHigher likelihood of OWOBM-SUWC was found among women aged 45-49 [AOR 2.20, 95% CI 1.70, 2.85], those with primary [AOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.21, 1.44] or secondary education [AOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09, 1.35], and divorced women [AOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.02, 1.73]. However, lower odds of OWOBM-SUWC were observed among women who were working [AOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.76, 0.89] and those breastfeeding [AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.70, 0.82]. The odds of OWOBM-SUWC was lower among females compared to male children [AOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80, 0.90]. Compared to children aged <1 year, children of all other age groups were more likely to have OWOBM-SUWC. Other child characteristics significantly associated with OWOBM-SUWC were low birth weight [AOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.32, 1.71], having diarrhea [AOR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04, 1.24], and higher birth order [AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.13, 1.66]. Children whose mothers used unimproved toilet facilities [AOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83, 0.98], those who lived in rural areas [AOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.71, 0.87], and children from the Central [AOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.46, 0.65], Eastern [AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.38, 0.52] and Western [AOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65, 0.89] sub-Saharan Africa were less likely to have OWOBM-SUWC.ConclusionCombination of child, maternal, and contextual factors could explain mother-child dyads of overnutrition and undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. Addressing this situation requires multidimensional policies and interventions that empower women through education and economic engagement. The observed sub-regional differences in policies and commitments related to addressing malnutrition suggest the need for comprehensive and coordinated efforts to implement and strengthen multisectoral comprehensive nutrition plans across sub-Saharan Africa. Sharing best practices and lessons learned can help improve the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of nutrition interventions and contribute to reducing the prevalence of malnutrition.

Project description:BackgroundGirl child marriage, a formal union of a female before age 18, and undernutrition remain common in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study is to establish the extent to which girl child marriage contributes to socioeconomic status and underweight, a measure of undernutrition, among adult women.MethodsWe used data from 103 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), representing 35 African countries from 1991 to 2014. Girl child marriage was coded both as a binary variable (before 18 years) and categorical variable (before 14, 14 to 15 years, 16 to 17 years). The primary outcome was underweight (body mass index less than 18·5). Secondary outcomes were early and multiple childbearing, secondary education completion, and wealth index. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations.ResultsFifty-five percent of women married before age 18. Girl child marriage was associated with reduced risk of being underweight both in models adjusted for basic confounders (risk difference = - 0.020, 95% CI [- 0.026, - 0.014], p < 0.01) and in models adjusted for childbearing, women's relative status, and socioeconomic outcomes (risk difference = - 0.018, 95% CI [- 0.024, - 0.011], p < 0.01). Conditional on completing primary education and community fixed-effects, women married before 18 years had an increased risk of early motherhood (risk difference = 0.38, 95% CI [0.38, 0.38], p < 0.01) and of being in the poorest quintile (risk difference = 0.024, 95% CI [0.012, 0.036], p < 0.01), and were 27 percentage points less likely to complete secondary education (risk difference = - 0.27, 95% CI [- 0.28, - 0.26)], p < 001), compared to women married as adults.ConclusionsThough associated with substantially reduced socioeconomic status, girl child marriage appears to be associated with slightly reduced risk of being underweight in the population studied. Further research is needed to understand the determinants of undernutrition in this context as well as the broader relationship between socioeconomic status and nutritional outcomes.

Project description:BackgroundAdolescence is a highly vulnerable period of human life characterized by substantial physiological and cognitive changes for which adequate nutrition is crucial. To date, evidence on determinants, prevalence, and trends of undernutrition and anemia for the entire West and Central African region is missing. This paper provides evidence on trends and levels of adolescent anemia and undernutrition in West and Central Africa.MethodsWe pooled all Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for West and Central African countries that were conducted between 1986 and 2017 to analyze levels and trends of adolescent anemia and undernutrition. We investigated the association of adolescent undernutrition and anemia within this region with World Bank income level classification of the country.ResultsOur findings suggest that the regional prevalence of adolescent anemia and undernutrition remained high at 45% and 19% respectively over the last 20 years. Anemia increased in about one third of countries and undernutrition in about two thirds over the studied period. On the aggregated level, these trends are largely masked and both levels remained stable in the entire region between the years 1998 and 2017. The results of the multivariable regression analysis indicate an association of adolescence with undernutrition and anemia, which was independent of socio-economic factors such as income, education, and place of residence.ConclusionWe conclude that levels of adolescent undernutrition and anemia remain high with little progress over the last 20 years and that adolescence is a significant correlate of both anemia and undernutrition. Given the recognition of the international community that adolescent nutrition is an important public health concern in resource-poor settings, there is an urgent need to improve data availability, quality, and use for decision-making and to design successful high-impact interventions to combat adolescent malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries.

Dataset Information

Secular trends in low birth weight and child undernutrition in West Africa: evidence from complex nationwide surveys, 1985-2019.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Secular trends in low birth weight and child undernutrition in West Africa: evidence from complex nationwide surveys, 1985-2019.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets