Associated factors with malnutrition among children under 2 years in Rwanda: A comparative study from Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2014/15

Abstract

Background: Despite the aggressive commitment and impressive progress in fighting against malnutrition, Rwanda continues facing significant challenges in relation to persistent high levels of chronic malnutrition (though the percentage of stunted children was 43 percent in 2000, 51 percent in 2005, 44 percent in 2010 to 38 percent in 2014/15. However, the proportion of children who are wasted declined from 7 percent in 2000, 5 percent in 2005, 3 percent in 2010 to 2 percent in 2014-15, while the proportion of children who are underweight declined as well, from 18 percent in 2005 to 11 percent in 2010 and 9 percent in 2014-15. Despite improvements in the nutritional status of Rwandan children in the past several years, the prevalence of malnutrition (stunting) is still high, and there remains a need for more intensive research and interventions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the associated factors with malnutrition among under two-year-old children in Rwanda. Methods: The present study was based on secondary data of cross-sectional studies that was analyzed to inform us on factors associated with malnutrition among children under two years old in Rwanda, reported to be stunted, wasted and underweight in the Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys (RDHS) 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2014-15. Data from the four above mentioned RDHS was organized, recorded according to the variable of interest, then statistical analysis was performed through SPSS 16.0 and STATA 13.0. Factors associated with stunting, wasting and underweight were examined using Chi² test, bivariate and multivariate analysis full and reduced model. Only statistically significant variables from bivariate analysis were sent to the multivariate analysis reduced model. Findings: The study revealed a significant association of child’s age (6-23 months), child’s sex (male), child’s low birth weight (<2.500kg), mother’s education (no-education), wealth index (poor) and mother nutritional status (underweight), dietary diversity (low dietary diversity), residence (rural), household size (7 persons and more), and water source (non-improved) with malnutrition in children under two years in Rwanda.

Conclusion: This study aimed at exploring secondary data from the DHS 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2014/15, to identify associated factors with malnutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) and compare the factors associated with malnutrition among under two years children in Rwanda. Based on study findings, there are policy implications because it provides a basis for intensifying interventions to address identified factors (inadequate feeding practices but also sociodemograph