Relationships between Wasting and Stunting and Their Concurrent Occurrence in Ghanaian Preschool Children

Abstract

Objective. The main aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of concurrent wasting and stunting among Ghanaian preschool children. Secondly, we investigated the relationship between wasting and stunting as well as factors associated with these conditions. Methods. This paper is based on reanalysis of anthropometric and other relevant data which was collected in the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The data set consisted of 2,720 preschool children aged 0–59 months. We conducted three-step moderated hierarchical multiple regression analyses to determine independent predictors and moderators of height-for-age Z-score. Results. Nationally, the prevalence of concurrent wasting and stunting among children aged 0–59 months was low at 1.4% but it varied geographically with the Upper East Region having the highest prevalence of 3.2% (95% CI: 1.7–5.8). Children who had low weight-for-height Z-scores were at a higher risk of linear growth retardation (stunting) especially among children aged less than three years. A 1-unit increase in weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) was associated with 0.07 standard units' increase in height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) [β = 0.071 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.15)]. Conclusions. The study results suggest that weight-for-height relates to linear growth but this relationship is moderated by age of child. Stunting and wasting share some common risk factors. Therefore, measures to prevent wasting may positively influence linear growth.

Children concurrently wasted and stunted: A meta‐analysis of prevalence data of children 6–59 months from 84 countries

“…Our analysis was not able to explore within country regional prevalence differences, but these may be considerable. In the Ghana analysis, significant within country geographical variation in concurrence was reported with a high of 3.2%, 95% CI [1.7–5.8], and a low of 0.5%, 95% CI [0.1–3.7] (Saaka & Galaa, ). This finding suggests that reported national averages can mask pockets of much poorer nutritional status within countries leading to possible underestimation of the burden of wasting and stunting within a country.…”

Birthweight and feeding practices are associated with child growth outcomes in South Asia

“…By contrast, stunting is generally understood as a chronic condition that needs to be prevented via longer‐term developmental investments in quality health, education, and water and sanitation, as well as improved knowledge and behaviours at the household level. Because of the long‐standing conceptual divide, nutrition actions have long been designed for one or the other manifestation with less attention to shared risk factors (Khara & Dolan, ; Saaka & Galaa, ).…”

The effect of maternal and child factors on stunting, wasting and underweight among preschool children in Northern Ghana

“…The Ghana demographic and health survey (GDHS) reports indicate a decrease in child stunting from 28% in 2008 [2] to 19% in 2014 [7]. Though this is an encouraging reduction nationally, there are wide disparities among the regions [8,9], with most southern regions having lower prevalence and the northern regions with higher prevalence [9]. Stunting in Northern region is the highest in Ghana with a prevalence of 33% among preschool children [7].…”

“…As Ghana strives to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030, ensuring nutritional well-being is key [8]. Government and non-governmental organizations in response to the high prevalence of stunting among children in the Northern region have initiated some interventions to decrease it [9].…”