Prevalence and Associated Risks Factors of Chronic Malnutrition amongst Children under Five in Niger

Youssoufa OUSSEINI LAMOU, Institut National de la Statistique du Niger (INS-NIGER)
Liman BATOURE, Ministry of Health, Population and Social Affairs
Assanatou Bamogo, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Almoustapha THEODORE YATTA, National Statistical Office Niger
Soumana HAROUNA, National Statistical Office Niger
Aida MOUNKAILA, Ministry of Health, Population and Social Affairs
Almamy Kante, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Gouda Roland M. Mady, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Safia Jiwani, John Hopkins University
Agbessi Amouzou, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

THEORITICAL FOCUS The prevalence of chronic malnutrition is very often the consequence of poor nutrition. It is characterized by stunted growth, which cycle can be irreversible. Since 2012, Niger has recorded high prevalences of chronic malnutrition in children under five, ranging from 42% in 2012 to 45.1% in 2020. This study aims to define the prevalence and trend of chronic malnutrition and describe factors that drive its inequity among the population. DATA The Niger SMART surveys data from 2006 to 2021 were used in this study with a focus on the 2021 survey which cover 10,153 households. METHODS Descriptive analyse is carried out. We used also multivariate regression to determine social, demographic and regional factors associated with chronic malnutrition. FINDINGS Chronic malnutrition has remained above the critical threshold from 42.5% in 2006 to 51% in 2021. Regional localization, households’ satisfaction of minimal required nutritional diversity, drinking water, unsanitary waste disposal, latrines availability, marital status of mothers, level of education, sex of children and breastfeeding are factors of inequality for chronic malnutrition in children under five. To access to population in needs, more efforts are required in the nutrition program implementation in order to reduce socio-economic et regional inequalities

Keywords: Population, Shocks and Pandemics, Social network methods, Comparative methods , Data and Methods

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