Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries
Abstract Child stunting prevalence is primarily used as an indicator of impeded physical growth due to undernutrition and infections, which also increases the risk of mortality, morbidity and cognitive problems, particularly when occurring during the 1000 days from conception to age 2 years. This pa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13537 |
| _version_ | 1827822752678019072 |
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| author | Omar Karlsson Rockli Kim Grainne M. Moloney Andreas Hasman S. V. Subramanian |
| author_facet | Omar Karlsson Rockli Kim Grainne M. Moloney Andreas Hasman S. V. Subramanian |
| author_sort | Omar Karlsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Child stunting prevalence is primarily used as an indicator of impeded physical growth due to undernutrition and infections, which also increases the risk of mortality, morbidity and cognitive problems, particularly when occurring during the 1000 days from conception to age 2 years. This paper estimated the relationship between stunting prevalence and age for children 0–59 months old in 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries. The overall stunting prevalence was 32%. We found higher stunting prevalence among older children until around 28 months of age—presumably from longer exposure times and accumulation of adverse exposures to undernutrition and infections. In most countries, the stunting prevalence was lower for older children after around 28 months—presumably mostly due to further adverse exposures being less detrimental for older children, and catch‐up growth. The age for which stunting prevalence was the highest was fairly consistent across countries. Stunting prevalence and gradient of the rise in stunting prevalence by age varied across world regions, countries, living standards and sex. Poorer countries and households had a higher prevalence at all ages and a sharper positive age gradient before age 2. Boys had higher stunting prevalence but had peak stunting prevalence at lower ages than girls. Stunting prevalence was similar for boys and girls after around age 45 months. These results suggest that programmes to prevent undernutrition and infections should focus on younger children to optimise impact in reducing stunting prevalence. Importantly, however, since some catch‐up growth may be achieved after age 2, screening around this time can be beneficial. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:02:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d0f72abdd9147e19ead50c4603e049a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:02:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d0f72abdd9147e19ead50c4603e049a2023-09-07T12:25:29ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092023-10-01194n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13537Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countriesOmar Karlsson0Rockli Kim1Grainne M. Moloney2Andreas Hasman3S. V. Subramanian4Takemi Program in International Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USADivision of Health Policy & Management, College of Health Science Korea University Seoul KoreaNutrition Section, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Kenya Country Office UN Complex Gigiri Nairobi KenyaUNICEF Programme Division New York New York USAHarvard Center for Population and Development Studies Cambridge Massachusetts USAAbstract Child stunting prevalence is primarily used as an indicator of impeded physical growth due to undernutrition and infections, which also increases the risk of mortality, morbidity and cognitive problems, particularly when occurring during the 1000 days from conception to age 2 years. This paper estimated the relationship between stunting prevalence and age for children 0–59 months old in 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries. The overall stunting prevalence was 32%. We found higher stunting prevalence among older children until around 28 months of age—presumably from longer exposure times and accumulation of adverse exposures to undernutrition and infections. In most countries, the stunting prevalence was lower for older children after around 28 months—presumably mostly due to further adverse exposures being less detrimental for older children, and catch‐up growth. The age for which stunting prevalence was the highest was fairly consistent across countries. Stunting prevalence and gradient of the rise in stunting prevalence by age varied across world regions, countries, living standards and sex. Poorer countries and households had a higher prevalence at all ages and a sharper positive age gradient before age 2. Boys had higher stunting prevalence but had peak stunting prevalence at lower ages than girls. Stunting prevalence was similar for boys and girls after around age 45 months. These results suggest that programmes to prevent undernutrition and infections should focus on younger children to optimise impact in reducing stunting prevalence. Importantly, however, since some catch‐up growth may be achieved after age 2, screening around this time can be beneficial.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13537age distributionchild healthglobal healthgrowth disorderslow‐ and middle‐income countriesmalnutrition |
| spellingShingle | Omar Karlsson Rockli Kim Grainne M. Moloney Andreas Hasman S. V. Subramanian Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries Maternal and Child Nutrition age distribution child health global health growth disorders low‐ and middle‐income countries malnutrition |
| title | Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries |
| title_full | Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries |
| title_fullStr | Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries |
| title_short | Patterns in child stunting by age: A cross‐sectional study of 94 low‐ and middle‐income countries |
| title_sort | patterns in child stunting by age a cross sectional study of 94 low and middle income countries |
| topic | age distribution child health global health growth disorders low‐ and middle‐income countries malnutrition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13537 |
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