Sex differences in nutritional status of HIV‐exposed children in Rwanda: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Abstractobjective To examine sex differences in nutritional status in relation to feeding practices over time in a cohort of HIV-exposed children participating in a complementary feeding programme in Rwanda.methods We applied a longitudinal design with three measurements 2-3 months apart among infants participating in a complementary feeding programme who were 6-12 months old at baseline. Using early feeding practices and a composite infant and child feeding index (ICFI) as indicators of dietary patterns, we conducted a multivariate analysis using a cross-sectional time series to assess sex differences in nutritional status and to determine whether there was a link to discrepancies in dietary patterns.results Among 222 boys and 258 girls, the mean (AESD) Z-score of stunting, wasting and underweight was À2.01 (AE1.59), À0.15 (AE1.46), À1.19 (AE1.29) for boys; for girls they were À1.46 (AE1.56), 0.22 (AE1.29), À0.63 (AE1.19); all sex differences in all three indicators were statistically significant (P < 0.001). However, there were only minor differences in early feeding practices and none in the ICFI by sex.conclusions HIV-exposed male children may be at higher risk of malnutrition in low-resource setting countries than their female counterparts. However, at least in a setting where complementary foods are being provided, explanations may lie outside the sphere of dietary patterns.

Socio-demographic factors associated with normal linear growth among pre-school children living in better-off households: A multi-country analysis of nationally representative data

“…It might be due to preferences in feeding practices or other types of exposures [70]. The findings could also be because boys are expected to grow at a slightly more rapid rate compared to girls, and their growth is perhaps more easily affected by nutritional deficiencies or other exposures [71].…”

Factors associated with normal linear growth among pre-school children living in better-off households: a multi-country analysis of nationally representative data

“…This might be due to preferences in feeding practices or other types of exposures (67). It could also be explained by the fact that boys are expected to grow at a slightly more rapid rate compared to girls and their growth is perhaps more easily affected by nutritional deficiencies or other exposures (68).…”

Stunting spatial pattern in Rwanda : an examination of complementary feeding practices, mycotoxins exposure and environmental factors

“…Previous research showed that male children are more likely to be stunted than female children (Kandala et al, 2011;Condo et al, 2015;Mukabutera et al, 2016). The odds of stunting increased as the age of children increased.…”

“…Previous Rwanda DHS surveys (INSR & Macro, 2006;NISR et al, 2010), showed similar patterns, with a notable difference in the prevalence of stunting among boys and girls: 47.4% boys were stunted compared to 41.4% stunted girls in the RDHS 2010, and in RDHS 2005, 46.3% boys were stunted compared to 44.4% stunted girls. In a study on sex differences in the nutritional status of HIVexposed children in Rwanda, Condo et al (2015) found significant differences in stunting status, with male children being more stunted than their female counterparts. However, in multivariate analysis, the authors did not find a significant difference in feeding practices between males and females children (Condo et al, 2015).…”

“…In a study on sex differences in the nutritional status of HIVexposed children in Rwanda, Condo et al (2015) found significant differences in stunting status, with male children being more stunted than their female counterparts. However, in multivariate analysis, the authors did not find a significant difference in feeding practices between males and females children (Condo et al, 2015). As for child's birthweight, our findings showed that an increase in a child's birthweight was positively associated with an increase in height-for-age.…”