Publication:
Determinants of Stunting and Overweight among Young Children and Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorKeino, Susan
dc.contributor.authorPlasqui, Guy
dc.contributor.authorEttyang, Grace
dc.contributor.authorvan den Borne, Bart
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-20T07:11:35Z
dc.date.issued2014-06-01
dc.description.abstractBackgroundStunting and overweight are nutritional problems affecting most of sub-Saharan Africa. The region now has the world's highest rate of stunting among children (43%), while overweight and obesity are becoming a global epidemic, and Africa is not spared. The past two decades have seen a dramatic increase in obesity in sub-Saharan Africa.ObjectiveThe purpose of this systematic review is to explore the determinants of stunting and overweight in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsA literature search was conducted in PubMed using the key words stunting, overweight, obesity, Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, determinants, and prevalence. Limits were set to include articles published between 1990 and 2012. The systematic review resulted in 38 studies, and after selection based on title, content, and country of the study, 18 studies were eligible for this review. Data were analyzed by the chi-square test.ResultsThe prevalence rates of stunting and over-weight were dependent on socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors. Many studies indicate that male children and those living in a rural setting are more likely to be stunted, whereas overweight among children depends more on age, household composition, occupation of the mother, and the mother's body mass index. Stunting occurred together with overweight among both boys and girls from 1 to 5 years of age. Stunting was more prevalent among boys than among girls. Indicators of socioeconomic status, such as mother's education, mother's occupation, and household income, were some of the determinants directly linked to stunting, whereas environmental factors, such as rural or urban setting and sanitation, influenced both stunting and overweight. Concurrent stunting and overweight is influenced by maternal and household factors, such as maternal height, age, and education, large household size, and lower socioeconomic status.ConclusionsAlthough socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors were significant in determining stunting and overweight, other factors, such as nutrition and lifestyle, were important risk factors. Stunting in childhood is a risk factor that may result in overweight and obesity later in adolescence and adulthood, indicating the need to screen children below 1 year of age to identify stunting early in life. Promoting exclusive breastfeeding is reported to be important in preventing both stunting and overweight among children. More research is needed to explore the relationship between stunting and overweight and to explore policy guidelines to address the phenomenon.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Netherlands Fellowship Program through the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic).
dc.identifier.citation1. Keino S, Plasqui G, Ettyang G, van den Borne B. Determinants of Stunting and Overweight among Young Children and Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 2014;35(2):167-178. doi:10.1177/156482651403500203
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1177/156482651403500203
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.nrf.go.ke/handle/123456789/837
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSAGE Publications
dc.subjectDeterminants
dc.subjectoverweight
dc.subjectstunting
dc.subjectsub-Saharan Africa
dc.titleDeterminants of Stunting and Overweight among Young Children and Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa
dc.typeArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
keino-et-al-2014-determinants-of-stunting-and-overweight-among-young-children-and-adolescents-in-sub-saharan-africa.pdf
Size:
157.11 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Food Safety(Aflatoxin-Studies)