Title:
Predictors of Undernutrition in Children: A Case Study of Kwahu South District (KSD) in Ghana
Authors:
Sataru, Fuseini
Year:
2013
PAGE:
ix, 53
Language:
En
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Keywords:
Undernutrition, Stunting, Wasting, Children, Women, Infections, Determinants, Prevalence, Intergenerational, Ghana, Kwahu South District
Abstract:
Introduction: Kwahu South District, like most other districts in Ghana is saddled with problems of undernutrition and ill health. Determinants of undernutrition are contextual, thereby requiring local solutions. This study serves to provide evidence to inform decision making and nutrition programming in Kwahu South District of Ghana. Methods: Data collected from a cross sectional survey on children 6-59 months old was analyzed to determine associations between stunting and wasting and selected predictors. Results: The main findings are: The risk of stunting in children who are 36 months and above is 11 times higher than children who are between 6-11 months (p<0.005). A mother being overweight was a protective factor against her child being stunted (OR=0.15, 95% CI [0.02-0.82], p<0.02). Children of unemployed women were 3 more at risk to be stunted to be stunted than children of women who were traders (OR=3.38, 95% CI 0.31-36.07). Male children were about 3 times more likely to be wasted than female children (OR=3.20, 95% CI [1.02-10.06], p<0.04). Children whose mothers were farmers were 2 times more likely to be wasted than children whose mothers were traders (OR=2.20, 95% CI 0.58-8.32). Conclusion: The causes of undernutrition in KSD include cuts across all the three levels of determinants. This requires a comprehensive approach in providing both nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions. Recommendation: Recommendations to the District Health Administration are: it should strengthen the management of acute undernutritionin at the CHPS level; and intensify outreach programmes on sanitation and hygiene.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Department:
Development, Policy and Practice
Country:
Ghana
Region:
Western Africa
Training:
Master of Public Health / International Course in Health Development (MPH/ICHD)
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2013 Sataru
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
eygawEyjRp_2016110312184171.pdf