Wasting and Associated Factors among Children under 5 Years in Five South Asian Countries (2014–2018): Analysis of Demographic Health Surveys

Nidhi Wali, Kingsley E. Agho and Andre M. N. Renzaho
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Nidhi Wali: School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Kingsley E. Agho: School of Health Sciences, Campbelltown Campus, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
Andre M. N. Renzaho: School of Medicine, Campbelltown Campus, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Child wasting continues to be a major public health concern in South Asia, having a prevalence above the emergency threshold. This paper aimed to identify factors associated with wasting among children aged 0–23 months, 24–59 months, and 0–59 months in South Asia. A weighted sample of 564,518 children aged 0–59 months from the most recent demographic and health surveys (2014–2018) of five countries in South Asia was combined. Multiple logistic regression analyses that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to examine associated factors. Wasting prevalence was higher for children aged 0–23 months (25%) as compared to 24–59 months (18%), with variations in prevalence across the South Asian countries. The most common factor associated with child wasting was maternal BMI [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for 0–23 months = 2.02; 95% CI: (1.52, 2.68); AOR for 24–59 months = 2.54; 95% CI: (1.83, 3.54); AOR for 0–59 months = 2.18; 95% CI: (1.72, 2.77)]. Other factors included maternal height and age, household wealth index, birth interval and order, children born at home, and access to antenatal visits. Study findings suggest need for nutrition specific and sensitive interventions focused on women, as well as adolescents and children under 2 years of age.

Keywords: child undernutrition; factors; infants; wasting; South Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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