How do household living conditions and gender-related decision-making influence child stunting in Rwanda? : A population-based study
(2024) In PLoS ONE 19(3).- Abstract
Child stunting (chronic undernutrition) is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. In Rwanda, an estimated 33% of children are affected. This study investigated the household living conditions and the impact of gender-related decision-making on child stunting. The findings contribute to ongoing discussion on this critical public health issue. In December 2021, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Rwanda's Northern Province; 601 women with children aged 1-36 months were included. Stunting was assessed using low height-for-age criteria. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was used to determine household socioeconomic status. Researcher-designed questionnaires evaluated gender-related... (More)
Child stunting (chronic undernutrition) is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. In Rwanda, an estimated 33% of children are affected. This study investigated the household living conditions and the impact of gender-related decision-making on child stunting. The findings contribute to ongoing discussion on this critical public health issue. In December 2021, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Rwanda's Northern Province; 601 women with children aged 1-36 months were included. Stunting was assessed using low height-for-age criteria. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was used to determine household socioeconomic status. Researcher-designed questionnaires evaluated gender-related factors such as social support and household decision-making. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified risk factor patterns. Six hundred and one children were included in the study; 27.1% (n = 163) were diagnosed as stunted; there was a higher prevalence of stunting in boys (60.1%) than girls (39.9%; p<0.001). The MPI was 0.265 with no significant difference between households with stunted children (MPI, 0.263; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.216-0.310) and non-stunted children (MPI, 0.265; 95% CI, 0.237-0.293). Most households reported a lack of adequate housing (78.9%), electricity (63.0%), good water sources (58.7%), and proper toilets (57.1%). Male-headed households dominated (92% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.018), and women often shared decision-making with their partners. However, 26.4% of women reported forced sexual intercourse within marriage (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% CI, 1.15-2.85). Lack of support during illness ([OR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.13-3.28) and absence of personal guidance (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.41-4.26) were significantly associated with child stunting. Poverty contributes to child stunting in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Limited social support and women's lack of decision-making power in the household increase stunting rates. Interventions should empower women and address the broader social and economic context to promote both women's and children's health.
(Less)
- author
- Utumatwishima, Jean Nepo ; Mogren, Ingrid LU ; Umubyeyi, Aline ; Mansourian, A LU and Krantz, Gunilla
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Child, stunting, Gender, Social Conditions, epidemiology, Prevalence, Rwanda/, Cross-Sectional Studies, Growth Disorders, Women's Health
- in
- PLoS ONE
- volume
- 19
- issue
- 3
- article number
- e0290919
- publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85187705574
- pmid:38478530
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0290919
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3482b822-f4ff-4f6f-a7bf-8940d412bf31
- date added to LUP
- 2024-03-18 09:26:35
- date last changed
- 2024-04-23 15:02:10
@article{3482b822-f4ff-4f6f-a7bf-8940d412bf31,
abstract = {{<p>Child stunting (chronic undernutrition) is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. In Rwanda, an estimated 33% of children are affected. This study investigated the household living conditions and the impact of gender-related decision-making on child stunting. The findings contribute to ongoing discussion on this critical public health issue. In December 2021, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Rwanda's Northern Province; 601 women with children aged 1-36 months were included. Stunting was assessed using low height-for-age criteria. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was used to determine household socioeconomic status. Researcher-designed questionnaires evaluated gender-related factors such as social support and household decision-making. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified risk factor patterns. Six hundred and one children were included in the study; 27.1% (n = 163) were diagnosed as stunted; there was a higher prevalence of stunting in boys (60.1%) than girls (39.9%; p<0.001). The MPI was 0.265 with no significant difference between households with stunted children (MPI, 0.263; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.216-0.310) and non-stunted children (MPI, 0.265; 95% CI, 0.237-0.293). Most households reported a lack of adequate housing (78.9%), electricity (63.0%), good water sources (58.7%), and proper toilets (57.1%). Male-headed households dominated (92% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.018), and women often shared decision-making with their partners. However, 26.4% of women reported forced sexual intercourse within marriage (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% CI, 1.15-2.85). Lack of support during illness ([OR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.13-3.28) and absence of personal guidance (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.41-4.26) were significantly associated with child stunting. Poverty contributes to child stunting in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Limited social support and women's lack of decision-making power in the household increase stunting rates. Interventions should empower women and address the broader social and economic context to promote both women's and children's health.</p>}},
author = {{Utumatwishima, Jean Nepo and Mogren, Ingrid and Umubyeyi, Aline and Mansourian, A and Krantz, Gunilla}},
issn = {{1932-6203}},
keywords = {{Child; stunting; Gender; Social Conditions; epidemiology; Prevalence; Rwanda/; Cross-Sectional Studies; Growth Disorders; Women's Health}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
publisher = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
series = {{PLoS ONE}},
title = {{How do household living conditions and gender-related decision-making influence child stunting in Rwanda? : A population-based study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290919}},
doi = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0290919}},
volume = {{19}},
year = {{2024}},
}