Comparative study of factors associated with stunting among children under five years of age in Rwanda using RDHS 2014/2015 and 2019/2020

Abstract

Background The WHO indicates that in 2020 more than one in five (22%) children aged below five years worldwide were stunted. The last RDHS report of 2019/2020 indicated that stunting in kids under five years was at 33%. The present study intends to compare the level of stunting in children aged 5 years and below with consideration of factors contributing to stunting in RDHS 2014/2015 and 2019/2020. Methodology This is a cross-sectional retrospective study design that used RDHS 2014/2015 and 2019/2020 data to contrast stunting prevalence and the factors that are influencing it. To achieve this objective, the descriptive analysis using tables and graphs, the bivariate analysis using chi-square and multivariable analysis using multiple logistic regression were performed to achieve the study objectives. All statistical tests performed at five percent significance level. All tasks related to the analysis of data were performed with Stata version 13.

Results This study indicates that 37.85% of children were stunted in 2015, whereas 33.45% were stunted in 2020.The determinants of stunting among children under age of five years in Rwanda in 2014/15 and 2019/2020 were the child sex (female versus male) (OR<1, P-value<0.001), child age (older children versus infant less than 6 months) (OR>4, P-value<0.001), the birth weight (low versus normal weight) (OR>2, P-value<0.001), and the wealth index (all categories versus the poorest) (OR<1, P-value<0.02). Conclusion Stunting among under five children in Rwanda was 37.85% for RDHS 2014/2015 and 33.45% for RDHS 2019/2020; Findings indicated an role of individual and household linked predictors that include sex of the child, child’s age, birth weight and wealth index as predictors of stunting. Interventions to prevent low birth weight, improve complementary feeding practices and reduce poverty are needed. Key word: Stunting; Malnutrition, Children, Demographic Health Survey