• Citer

Trends in Stunting and Its Association with Low Birth Weight Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Rwanda: A 10-Year Analysis (2010-2020)

par Ndayishimiye, Yves
Président du jury Damanet, Benjamin
Promoteur Donnen, Philippe
Publication Non publié, 2024-09-10

Mémoire

• Accès en ligne
• Détails
• Contenu
• Statistiques

Résumé :

Introduction : Stunting in children remains a persistent challenge to Rwanda's achieving the 2025 global nutrition targets and its vision for 2050, due to its detrimental effects on child development and growth. To provide a current picture of Rwanda's progress in combating this form of malnutrition, our study analyzed trends in stunting among vulnerable groups, children aged 6–59 months, and those with low birth weight from 2010 to 2020. Methods : We performed a secondary analysis of data from recent cross-sectional studies conducted by Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys (RDHS) from 2010, 2015, and 2020. The study included children aged 6–59 months with available height-for-age and birth weight data. Low birth weight (<2.5 kg) was the primary exposure variable, while stunting (height-for-age Z-scores below -2 SD) was our main outcome measure. We assessed that relationship using a multivariate logistic regression model, considering available major socioeconomic determinants as covariates.Results : The prevalence of stunting significantly decreased from 46.6% (44.6-48.6) in 2010 to 34.9% (32.9-37.0) in 2020. In contrast to this, stunting in children with a background of low birth weight did not decrease, and this heightened risk remained significant over ten years. The child characteristics, such as male sex and age between 24 and 47 months, were consistently associated with an increased risk of stunting. On the other hand, maternal factors, including literacy and adequate prenatal care, and household characteristics, such as improved sanitation and hygiene conditions, access to electricity, and fewer children under five in the households, were associated with reduced risks of stunting.Conclusion : Over the past decade, a substantial reduction in childhood stunting was achieved. However, ongoing efforts are necessary to address persistent disparities and challenges related to vulnerable groups, including the low birth weight category. Future strategies could focus on more horizontal, equitable, and transdisciplinary approaches to tackle this nutrition burden.