1. The level of wasting and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in sub-Saharan African countries: multilevel ordinal logistic regression analysis.
- Author
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Asebe HA, Asmare ZA, Mare KU, Kase BF, Tebeje TM, Asgedom YS, Shibeshi AH, Lombebo AA, Sabo KG, Fente BM, Bezie MM, and Seifu BL
- Abstract
Background: Despite various interventions to combat child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, wasting remains a critical public health concern for children aged 6-59 months. Wasting is a significant predictor of child survival and development, with a heightened risk of mortality among children. However, there is a lack of recent comprehensive data on the prevalence, severity level, and factors contributing to wasting in this age group., Objective: To identify the severity levels of wasting and its individual and community-level factors contributing to wasting among children aged 6-59 months in Sub-Saharan African countries., Methods: This research utilized Demographic and Health Survey data from 34 Sub-Saharan African countries, spanning the period from 2007 to 2022. The study included a weighted sample of 180,317 6-59-month-old children. We employed a multilevel proportional odds model to identify factors predicting the severity of wasting. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported to demonstrate significant relationships ( p < 0.05) in the final model., Results: In Sub-Saharan Africa, 7.09% of children aged 6-59 months experience wasting (95% CI: 6.97, 7.20%). Among these children, the prevalence of moderate wasting is 4.97% (95% CI: 4.90, 5.10%), while severe wasting affects 2.12% (95% CI: 2.0, 2.20%). Factors such as term/post-term babies, wealth, frequency of feeding, improved toilet facilities, water sources, employed and educated mothers, rural residence, high community maternal education, and community media exposure are strongly associated with a lower chance of experiencing severe form of wasting. Conversely, birth order, family size, breastfeeding, diarrhea, cough, and fever, high community poverty, female household heads, and all Sub-Saharan Africa regions are linked to higher levels of wasting., Conclusion: The study findings underscore the persistent challenge of wasting among Sub-Saharan Africa's children, with 7.09% affected, of which 4.97% experience moderate wasting and 2.12% severe wasting. The identified predictors of wasting highlight the complex interplay of socio-economic, environmental, and health-related determinants. To address this issue improve access to healthcare and nutrition services, enhance sanitation infrastructure, promote women's empowerment, and implement community-based education programs. Additionally, prioritize early detection through routine screening and strengthen health systems' capacity to provide timely interventions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Asebe, Asmare, Mare, Kase, Tebeje, Asgedom, Hailu Shibeshi, Lombebo, Sabo, Fente, Bezie and Seifu.)
- Published
- 2024
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