Factors Affecting the Nutritional Status of School-aged Children Belonging to Farming Households in the Philippines

Abstract

Undernutrition among school-aged children continues to be a public health concern in the Philippines, where agriculture is the primary source of income. School-age is a crucial phase of development and growth among children since it can establish nutritional knowledge and healthy eating habits across the next life stages. Evidence suggested that undernutrition exists among school-aged children belonging to households relying on agriculture. This study aims to identify factors affecting the nutritional status of school children belonging to farming households. The data set from the 2015 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups of the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) consisting of 1,689 school children belonging to farming households was used in this study. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine significant factors affecting the nutritional status of school-aged children while holding other variables constant. Household wealth index and age were significantly associated with underweight and wasting. Meanwhile, poor dietary diversity score was also an essential confounding factor between socioeconomic status with underweight and stunting but not wasting. The study’s findings can provide empirical evidence that the most important underlying causes of undernutrition among school-aged children belonging to farming households were wealth index and food availability. It is recommended that their investments be made in addition to livelihood for families relying on agriculture and provide them better access to government services to diminish the existing issues of scarcity.

Suboptimal Nutritional Status of School-Age Children in Addis Ababa: Evidence from the Analysis of Sociodemographic, Environmental, and Behavioral Factors

“…This study revealed a statistically significant association between the wealth index (WI) and wasting among school-age children, which aligns with previous findings in the Philippines [52], and South Ari District in Southern Ethiopia [53]. Furthermore, the odds of wasting were significantly lower for children aged 11-14 years compared to those aged 6-10 years, which is consistent with studies conducted in Gondar town, northwestern Ethiopia [32], Gedeo Zone in South Ethiopia [48], Northern Sri Lanka [51], the Philippines [52], and North East of Morocco [54]. Additionally, children who consumed four or more food groups had lower odds of wasting, as supported by similar studies conducted in the Semien Bench district in Ethiopia [55], and rural Bangladesh [56].…”

Influence of Capacity Building on Nutrition Sensitivity of the Municipal Agriculture Development Plan in Calabarzon, Philippines

“…However, this was not observed across low and middle-income countries including Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia as reflected by the sustained high rates of hunger, food insecurity, and undernutrition among children (Heidkamp et al 2021). This public health concern is also an issue in the Philippines, particularly in households relying on agriculture (FNRI 2016;Capanzana et al 2018;dela Luna and Talavera 2021).…”