Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

An analysis of socio-demographic patterns in child malnutrition trends using Ghana demographic and health survey data in the period 1993–2008

Authors: Dickson A Amugsi, Maurice B Mittelmark, Anna Lartey

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

A small but growing body of research indicates that progress in reducing child malnutrition is substantially uneven from place to place, even down to the district level within countries. Yet child malnutrition prevalence and trend estimates available for public health planning are mostly available only at the level of global regions and/or at country level. To support carefully targeted intervention to reduce child malnutrition, public health planners and policy-makers require access to more refined prevalence data and trend analyses than are presently available. Responding to this need in Ghana, this report presents trends in child malnutrition prevalence in socio-demographic groups within the country’s geographic regions.

Methods

The study uses the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS) data. The GDHS are nationally representative cross-sectional surveys that have been carried out in many developing countries. These surveys constitute one of the richest sources of information currently available to examine time trends in child malnutrition. Data from four surveys were used for the analysis: 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008.

Results

The results show statistically significant declining trends at the national level for stunting (F (1, 7204) = 7.89, p ≤ .005), underweight (F (1, 7441) = 44.87, p ≤ .001) and wasting (F (1, 7130) = 6.19, p ≤ .013). However, analyses of the sex-specific trends revealed that the declining trends in stunting and wasting were significant among males but not among females. In contrast to the national trend, there were significantly increasing trends in stunting for males (F (1, 2004) = 3.92, p ≤ .048) and females (F (1, 2004) = 4.34, p ≤ .037) whose mothers had higher than primary education, while the trends decreased significantly for males and females whose mothers had no education.

Conclusions

At the national level in Ghana, child malnutrition is significantly declining. However, the aggregate national trend masks important deviations in certain socio-demographic segments, including worsening levels of malnutrition. This paper shows the importance of disaggregated analyses of national child malnutrition data, to unmask underlying geographic and socio-demographic differences.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
de Onis M, BLossner M, Borghi E, Morris SS, Frongillo EA: Methodology for estimating regional and global trends of child malnutrition. Int J Epidemiol. 2004, 33: 1260-1270. 10.1093/ije/dyh202.CrossRefPubMed
2.
de Onis M, Blossner M, Borghi E: Prevalence and trends of stunting among pre-school children, 1990–2020. Public Health Nutr. 2010
3.
de Onis M, Edward A, Blossner M: Is malnutrition declining? An analysis of changes in levels of child malnutrition since 1980. Bull World Health Organ. 2000, 78: 1222-1233.PubMedPubMedCentral
4.
5.
de Poel V, Hosseinpoor RA, Jehu-Appiah C, Vega J, Speybroeck N: Malnutrition and the disproportionate burden on the poor: the case of Ghana. Int J Equity Health. 2007, 6 (21):
6.
Omilola B: Paterns and trends of child and maternal nutrition inequalities in Nigeria. 2010, Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute
7.
Ponguo R, Ezzati M, Salomon AJ: Household and community socioeconomic and environmental determinants of child nutritional status in Cameroon. BMC Public Health. 2005, 98 (6):
8.
Girma W, Timotiows G: Determinants of nutritional status of women and children in Ethiopia. 2002, ORC Macro: Calverton, Maryland
9.
de Onis M, Onyango AW, Borghi E, Garza C, Yang H: Comparison of the world health organization (WHO) child growth standards and the national center for health statistics/WHO international growth reference: implications for child health programmes. Public Health Nutr. 2006, 9 (7): 942-947.CrossRefPubMed
10.
de Onis M: New WHO child growth standards catch on. Bull World Health Organ. 2011, 89: 250-251.CrossRef
11.
Kuate-Defo B: Areal and socioeconomic differentials in infant and child mortality in Cameroon. Soc Sci Med. 1996, 42: 399-420. 10.1016/0277-9536(95)00107-7.CrossRef
12.
Smith LC, Ruel MT, Ndiaye A: Why is child malnutrition lower in urban than rural areas? Evidence from 36 developing countries. World Dev. 2005, 33 (8): 1285-1305. 10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.03.002.CrossRef
13.
Bosu WK, Nsorwah-Nuamah N, Ward PM: A profile of health inequalities in Ghana. 2000, Accra: Ghana Ministry of Health
14.
Smith LC, Marie T, Ndiaye A: Why is child malnutrition lower in urban than rural areas? Evidence from 36 developing countries. 2004, Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, Contract No. FCNDP 176
15.
Fotso J-C: Urban–rural differentials in child malnutrition: trends and socioeconomic correlates in sub-Saharan Africa. Health Place. 2007, 13: 205-223. 10.1016/j.healthplace.2006.01.004.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Ruel MT, Garnett JL, Morris SS, et al: Urban challenges to nutrition security: a review of food security, health and care in the cities. Food consumption and Nutrition Discussion Paper. 1998, Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, Contract No.: 51
17.
Haddad L, Marie T, Ruel , Garrett JL: Are urban poverty and undernutrition growing? Some newly assembled evidence. World Dev. 1999, 27 (11): 1891-1904. 10.1016/S0305-750X(99)00093-5.CrossRef
18.
UNICEF: Progress for children: A report card on nutrition. 2006, New York
19.
Gayle H, Dibley M, Marks J, Trowbridge F: Malnutrition in the first two years of life. The contribution of low birth weight to population estimates in the United States. Am J Dis Child. 1987, 141 (4): 531-534.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Borrell C, Muntaner C, Benach J, Artazcoz L: Social class and self-reported health status among men and women: what is the role of work organisation, household material standards and household labour?. Soc Sci Med. 2004, 58 (10): 1869-1887. 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00408-8.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Dancer D, Rammohan A: Maternal autonomy and child nutrition: evidence from rural Nepal. Indian Growth Dev Rev. 2009, 2 (1): 18-38. 10.1108/17538250910953444.CrossRef
22.
Hong R, Banta JE, Betancourt J: Relationship between household wealth inequality and chronic childhood under-nutrition in Bangladesh. Int J Equity Health. 2006, 15 (5):
23.
Hong R: Effects of economic inequality on chronic childhood undernutrition in Ghana. Public Health Nutr. 2005, 4 (10): 372-378.
24.
Asenso-Okyere WK, Asante FA, Nube M: Understanding the health and nutritional status of children in Ghana. Agric Economies. 1997, 17: 59-74. 10.1016/S0169-5150(97)00011-X.CrossRef
25.
Frimpong JA, Ponguo R: Does economic growth improve child health? understanding discordant trends in malnutrition indicators during the economic growth in Ghana. 2008, Population Association of America: New Orleans, LA
26.
Burchi F: Child nutrition in Mozambique in 2003: the role of mother's schooling and nutrition knowledge. Econ Hum Biol. 2010, 8: 331-345. 10.1016/j.ehb.2010.05.010.CrossRefPubMed
27.
28.
WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Study Group: WHO Child Growth Standards: length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: methods and development. 2006, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization
29.
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana Health Service (GHS): Demographic and Health Survey 2008. 2009, Ghana: Accra, Ghana: GSS, GHS, and ICF Macro
30.
Ghana, Statistical, Service (GSS), Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research ORC Macro: Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2003. 2004, Calverton, Maryland: GSS, NMIMR, and ORC Macro. Ghana
31.
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Macro International Inc: Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 1998. 1999, Calverton, Maryland: GSS and MI. Ghana
32.
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Macro International Inc. (MI): Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 1993. 1994, Calverton, Maryland: GSS and MI. Ghana
33.
34.
Bosu WK, Nsorwah-Nuamah N, Ward PM: A profile of health inequalities in Ghana. 2000, Ghana Ministry of Health
35.
WHO: Proposed global targets for maternal, infant and young child nutrition. 2012, Geneva: WHO
36.
Commission NDP: UNSiG: 2008 Ghana Millennium Development Goals. 2010, Ghana: NDPC
37.
Commission NDP: UNSiG. Achieving the MDGs with equity in Ghana: unmasking the issues behind the averages. 2012, Ghana: National Development Planning Commission
38.
Government of Ghana: National Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition 1995–2000. 1995, Ghana
39.
40.
Asian Development Bank: Improving child nutrition in Asia. Nutrition and Development, Volume No. 3. 2001, Manila: ADB
41.
Haggerty P, Pande R, Sanchez A, et al: Nutrition and health status of young children and their mothers in Mali: Findings from the 1995/96 Mali Demographic and Health Survey. 1998, Macro International, Inc: Calverton, Maryland
42.
Morris S, Levin CE, Amar-Klemesu M, Maxwell D, Ruel MT: Does geographic targeting of nutrition interventions make sense in cities? evidence from Abidjan and Accra. World Dev. 1999, 27: 2011-2019. 10.1016/S0305-750X(99)00098-4.CrossRef
43.
Boateng , Oti E, Ewusi K, Kanbur R, McKay A: A poverty profile for Ghana. J Afr Econ. 1992, 1 (1): 25-58.
44.
Maxwell D, Levin C, Armar-Klemesu M, Ruel M, Morris S, Ahiadeke C: Urban Livelihoods and Food and Nutrition Security in Greater Accra, Ghana. 2000, WASHINGTON, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute
45.
Coulomb H, McKay A: An assessment of trends in poverty in Ghana:1988–92. PSP Discussion Paper 81. 1995, Washington, D.C: World Bank
46.
Kandala N-B, Madungu TP, Emina JB, Nzita KPD, Cappuccio FP: Malnutrition among children under the age of five in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): does geographic location matter?. BMC Public Health. 2011, 261 (11):
47.
Pullum TW: An Assessment of the Quality of Data on Health and Nutrition in the DHS Surveys, 1993–2003. Methodological Reports No. 6. 2008, Calverton, Maryland, USA: Macro International Inc.
48.
Parikh A, DeSilva MB, Cakwe TQ, Simon JL, Skalicky A, Zhuwau T: Exploring the Cinderella myth: intrahousehold differences in child wellbeing between orphans and non-orphans in Amajuba District, South Africa. AIDS. 2007, 21 (suppl 7): S95-S103. 10.1097/01.aids.0000300540.12849.86.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
An analysis of socio-demographic patterns in child malnutrition trends using Ghana demographic and health survey data in the period 1993–2008
Authors
Dickson A Amugsi
Maurice B Mittelmark
Anna Lartey
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-960

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

BMC Public Health 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research article

Facilitating HIV status disclosure for pregnant women and partners in rural Kenya: a qualitative study

Study protocol

ShopSmart 4 Health – Protocol of a skills-based randomised controlled trial promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women

Research article

Delayed sleep phase syndrome in adolescents: prevalence and correlates in a large population based study

Research article

Intimate partner violence against women during and after pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in Mumbai slums

Research article

Development of a scale to measure stigma related to podoconiosis in Southern Ethiopia

Research article

Social media use by community-based organizations conducting health promotion: a content analysis