Publication: Stunted Too Early: Analysis of the Cambodia and Kenya 2014 Demographic and Health Survey Data
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2019
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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Publisher
World Nutrition
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Abstract
Background Child stunting reflects chronic under-nutrition, which often begins before birth
and is almost irreversible after the second year of life. Globally, by 2018, an estimated 140 million
children under the age of 5 years were stunted. Over one-third each lived in South East Asia
(34.4%) and Eastern and South Africa (33.6%). This condition puts children at disadvantages due
to partly irreversible physical and cognitive damage. This poorly nourished beginning has
consequences that include persistent poverty, worsening inequality, higher health care costs and
weaker national economies. Early detection of stunting is a key factor to any prevention strategy.
Objective To examine the relationship between child, maternal, household, and gender
inequality characteristics with early onset of child stunting in Kenya and Cambodia.
Methods The study analyzed data from the 2014 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in
Kenya and Cambodia for children under age 2. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were
performed to find associations between the variables and child stunting.
Results The prevalence of stunting among children under age 2 in Kenya was 22%, and in
Cambodia, 25%. Child’s age, perceived birth size, family wealth status, and region of residence
were significantly associated with stunting. In both countries children from the richest households
had 0.4 times lower odds of being stunted compared with those from the poorest households. In
Kenya, female children had 0.6 times lower odds of being stunted compared with male children.
In Cambodia, children from rural areas had 0.6 times lower odds of being stunted compared with
those from urban areas, while children whose mothers were underweight had 1.7 times higher odds
of being stunted than children whose mothers were not underweight. In both countries, there was
general lack of a strong and significant relationship between the DHS indicators of gender
inequality and child stunting.
Conclusions Children’s characteristics, household wealth and maternal underweight were
more important in predicting stunting in these children under two years of age than factors related
to gender inequality. A more extensive analysis of future DHS data that includes other aspects of
gender inequality such as decisions on choice and preparation of food, purchase of household
goods, as well as gender-based barriers to provision of child care might provide additional insights
on that potential determinant of early stunting
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Keywords
Stunting, Kenya, Cambodia, Gender Inequality and 1, 000 Days