Early feeding practices and stunting in Rwandan children: a cross-sectional study from the 2010 Rwanda demographic and health survey

Abstract

Introductionin Rwanda, despite different interventions to improve child nutrition status, malnutrition in children under five years of age continue to be a public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the factors that contribute to childhood stunting by assessing feeding practices of Rwandans in children ≤ 2 years of age.MethodsA cross-sectional study with data obtained from the 2010 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey was conducted on 1,634 children ≤ 2 years of age with complete anthropometrical measurements. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between feeding practices and childhood stunting.ResultsThe results revealed that 35.1% of 1,634 children were stunted. Breastfeeding for 1 year (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.91-4.01, P < 0.001) increased the risk of childhood stunting. After controlling for confounders, solid food initiation (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.47-3.16, P≥ 0.690) and early initiation to breastfeeding (OR = 1.16, CI = 0.90-1.51, P = 0.243) were not associated with childhood stunting.ConclusionThere was a significant association between continued breastfeeding for 1 year and childhood stunting. We suggest supplementary feeding for children who are breastfed for ≥1 year.

Fulfilment of minimum acceptable diet (MAD), short birth length and family income level are associated with stunting in children aged 6-23 months in Central Jakarta

“…The prevalence of stunting in this population was high, with 26% of children aged 6-23 months affected, and this level of stunting in Central Jakarta is categorised as a moderate public health problem by WHO (1995). The prevalence of stunting was higher in children aged 12-23 months than in children aged 6-11 months, and this finding is similar to results from Rwanda (Nsereko, 2018). As children age, their growth curve deviates from the normal curve in line with the increase in their nutritional needs (Terati & Susanto, 2018).…”

“…The results of this study showed that children who did not meet MAD were 3.29 times more likely to be stunted. The fulfilment of MAD is therefore very important because it represents the effect of both food quantity and quality on children's linear growth (Nsereko, 2018). A cohort study conducted in Bangladesh found that the fulfilment of MAD was a predictor of linear growth in children aged 6-24 months (Owais et al, 2016).…”

A qualitative analysis of infant and young child feeding practices in rural Rwanda

“…Past studies on the risk factors underlying child undernutrition in Rwanda have mainly focused on socio-economic and demographic factors (13)(14)(15)(16) . Other studies (17)(18)(19) examined the influence of access to health care on child stunting.…”

Relationship Between Exclusive Breastfeeding With Stunting Events in Age 12-35 Months in Air Dingin Health Center Padang 2018

“…In contrast to the results of the research by Bertalina and Amelia (2018) stated that there was no relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of stunting. Supported by research conducted on children less than two years in Rwanda that exclusive breastfeeding was not associated with the incidence of stunting because exclusive breastfeeding was a factor of protection against stunting but did not address other factors such as nutritional deficiencies, infections and diarrhea (Nsereko et al , 2018) . Other studies are also different namely research conducted on 6,956 children aged 6-23 months in Indonesia that exclusive breastfeeding was not associated with the incidence of stunting due to limited secondary data so that it cannot be clearly distinguished exclusive breastfeeding ≥ 6 months with exclusive 6 months ASI (Paramashanti et al, 2015).…”