Bayesian Semi-Parametric Regression Analysis of Childhood Malnutrition in Gamo Gofa Zone: The Social and Economic Impact of Child Undernutrition

Abstract

Abstract:Major progress has been made over the last decades in reducing the prevalence of malnutrition amongst children less than 5 years of age in developing countries. Approximately 27% of children under the age of 5 in these countries are still malnourished. This work focuses on the childhood malnutrition in Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia. This study examined the association between demographic and socioeconomic determinants and the malnutrition problem in children less than 5 years of age using Data obtained from both rural and urban sampled surveys conducted in sample Woredas from December 1 to January 5, 2013. The study on the Child undernutrition and underweight prevalence in Gamo Gofa has allowed us to quantify the negative impacts of child undernutrition in both social and economic terms. The results revealed that as many as 75% of all cases of child undernutrition and its related pathologies go untreated. It is also observed that about 35% of the health costs associated with undernutrition occur before the child turns 1 year-old. Generally, The results of the analysis show that place of residence, employment status of mother, employment status of partners, educational status of mothers, diarrhea, household economic level and source of drinking water were found to be the most important determinants of health/nutritional status of children. The study revealed that socio-economic, demographic and health and environmental variables have significant effects on the nutritional and health status of children in Ethiopia.

A Semi-Parametric Analysis of Childhood Stunting in India: District Level Scenario

“…The Bayesian semi-parametric model analysis revealed that sex, birth order, wealth quintile, mother's educational level and, sanitation facilities have a statistically signi cant effect (at 5% signi cance level) on the childhood stunting outcome. The study in agreement with previous studies (Khateb K., 2010;Fahrmeir & Khatab, 2008;Ferede Asena, 2015;N. B. Kandala et al, 2011;Mohammed & Asfaw, 2018;Takele, 2013;Yadav et al, 2015;Bacha, 2019) suggested that female children, children belonging to economically better households and born to educated mothers have higher HAZ score after controlling for other socio, economic and demographic covariates.…”

“…Past studies have con rmed the association of growth faltering with a child's age but shows wide regional variations (15 months in Egypt, 17-30 months in Ethiopia) (Fahrmeir & Khatab, 2008;Ferede Asena, 2015;Mohammed & Asfaw, 2018;Takele, 2013). The mother's age at birth and her BMI also showed a signi cant non-linear relationship with childhood stunting outcome and is characterized by wide state-wise variations.…”

“…There are many continuous variables like child's age, mother's BMI, mother's age at birth (Fahrmeir & Khatab, 2008;Fenske et al, 2011;Ferede Asena, 2015;Getnet Ayele et al, 2016;N. Kandala et al, 2001;N.…”

Prevalence and Potential Determinants of Aggregate Anthropometric Failure among Pakistani Children: Findings from a Community Health Survey

“…One of the key determinants of child malnutrition is parental education, especially mother's education. Much of the literature has demonstrated that improved maternal education might be one of the defensive measures against children's poor nutritional status [10,11,[36][37][38]. This study also highlighted the fact that children of literate mothers (at least secondary education) were less likely to fall into anthropometric failure.…”