Predictors of Stunting Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Kitui County, Kenya
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Date
2024-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Stunting in children under five years is a significant public health problem in developing countries, with Eastern and Central Africa having some of the highest stunting levels worldwide. In Kenya, 25% of children under five are stunted. Stunting has transitory and lifelong effects on people and communities, including a high risk of morbidity and death, lowered mental and physical growth, poor school performance, and decreased productivity. The goal of this study was to investigate the predictors of stunting in children aged 6 to 59 months in Kitui County. This was a cross-sectional analytical survey comprising 398 children and their caregivers. Multistage cluster sampling was used. First, clusters were selected from all the five wards of Kitui Central Sub-county based on probability proportional to population size. Secondly, two villages were randomly chosen per ward using simple random sampling. Lastly, households were picked within the selected villages using simple random sampling. Only one eligible child per household was chosen randomly. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires, KIIs, and FGDs. Anthropometric measurements were taken from 398 children to assess stunting, while their caregivers were interviewed. To estimate the rate of stunting, anthropometric data were analyzed with ENA for SMART software. The mid-upper arm circumference of mothers was measured to estimate maternal nutrition. SPSS 27 was used to input and analyze data. Descriptive statistics were generated and the chi-square test was run to determine associations between stunting and the independent variables. After the chi-square test, variables that were statistically related to stunting (p<0.05) were subjected to bivariate logistic regression analysis to calculate the Odds Ratio (OR) for each independent variable. The statistical significance was at p<0.05. The stunting rate was 26.6%. The predictors of stunting included mothers with primary education (OR = 3.153; 95% CI: 1.449-6.860; p: 0.004) or secondary education (OR = 3.143; 95% CI: 1.455-6.787; p: 0.004), mother’s MUAC < 23 cm (OR = 3.106; 95% CI: 1.288-7.493; p:0.012), birth weight < 2500 grams (OR = 2.469; 95% CI: 1.342-4.545; p: 0.004), household income below Kshs 10,000 or USD 77.5 (OR = 5.125; 95% CI: 1.965-13.364; p: 0.001), having more than one child below five years (OR = 1.676; 95% CI: 1.040-2.702; p: 0.034), partial immunization (OR = 4.719; 95% CI: 1.107-20.126), complementary feeding before six months (OR = 2.601; 95% CI: 1.221-5.543), using water from unimproved water sources (OR = 1.750; 95% CI: 1.075-2.848; p:0.024), and having no access to a latrine/toilet (OR = 6.811; 95% CI: 1.728-26.849; p: 0.006). The investigator concluded that stunting was high and was influenced by sociodemographic factors, child caring practices, and the household environment. The study recommends that the county government should enhance policies for women and girls education, sensitize the community on the benefits of family planning, provide livelihood support to families to improve income, promote knowledge on stunting among caregivers, strengthen community programs that promote timely complementary feeding, continue the current efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and intensify measures to reduce stunting through multisectoral interventions.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Disease Control) in the School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University, October 2024
Supervisors:
1.Justus O.S. Osero
2.Judy Mugo