What explains the large disparity in child stunting in the Philippines? A decomposition analysis.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
About one-third of under-five Filipino children are stunted, with significant socio-economic inequality. This study aims to quantify factors that explain the large gap in stunting between poor and non-poor Filipino children.Design
Using the 2015 Philippine National Nutrition Survey, we conducted a linear probability model to examine the determinants of child stunting and then an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to explain the factors contributing to the gap in stunting between poor and non-poor children.Setting
Philippines.Participants
1881 children aged 6-23 months participated in this study.Results
The overall stunting prevalence was 38·5 % with a significant gap between poor and non-poor (45·0 % v. 32·0 %). Maternal height, education and maternal nutrition status account for 26 %, 18 % and 17 % of stunting inequality, respectively. These are followed by quality of prenatal care (12 %), dietary diversity (12 %) and iron supplementation in children (5 %).Conclusions
Maternal factors account for more than 50 % of the gap in child stunting in the Philippines. This signifies the critical role of maternal biological and socio-economic circumstances in improving the linear growth of children.
SUBMITTER: Ulep VGT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9991861 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
What explains the large disparity in child stunting in the Philippines? A decomposition analysis.
Ulep Valerie Gilbert T VGT Uy Jhanna J Casas Lyle Daryll LD
Public health nutrition 20211004 11
<h4>Objective</h4>About one-third of under-five Filipino children are stunted, with significant socio-economic inequality. This study aims to quantify factors that explain the large gap in stunting between poor and non-poor Filipino children.<h4>Design</h4>Using the 2015 Philippine National Nutrition Survey, we conducted a linear probability model to examine the determinants of child stunting and then an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to explain the factors contributing to the gap in stunting betw ...[more]
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