Sibling Gender Dynamics and Childhood Malnutrition in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Stunting remains a public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the evolving awareness of the effect of family composition on child health outcomes, the influence of sibling gender on stunting has seldom been consistent. The current study investigated the association between sibling composition and stunting among children under 5 years in Ghana. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized data from the most recent Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS 2022), focusing on 4412 mother-child dyads. Stunting prevalence was assessed through descriptive analysis, while logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between sibling composition and identify other risk factors associated with stunting. Results The prevalence of stunting among children under five years of age was 18%. It was observed from the composite and sex-stratified models that having male siblings increased children’s odds of being stunted. Furthermore, being a male child (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.94) and belonging to a household with an unimproved water supply (OR: 10.9; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.82) increased children's likelihood of stunting. Conclusion This study revealed that the extra nutrients male children require for healthy growth and development may heighten competition for nutrients, especially in resource-constrained households. Parents and guardians are advised to be consciously aware of the subtle and apparent competition between siblings and take appropriate measures to prevent children’s deprivation of nutrition by their male siblings.