Stunting as a Synonym of Social Disadvantage and Poor Parental Education

Abstract

Socially, economically, politically and emotionally (SEPE) disadvantaged children are shorter than children from affluent background. In view of previous work on the lack of association between nutrition and child growth, we performed a study in urban schoolchildren. We measured 723 children (5.83 to 13.83 years); Kupang, Indonesia; three schools with different social background. We investigated anthropometric data, clinical signs of malnutrition, physical fitness, parental education, and household equipment. Subjective self-confidence was assessed by the MacArthur test. The prevalence of stunting was between 8.5% and 46.8%. Clinical signs of under- or malnutrition were absent even in the most underprivileged children. There was no delay in tooth eruption. Underprivileged children are physically fitter than the wealthy. The correlation between height and state of nutrition (BMI_SDS, skinfold_SDS, MUAC_SDS) ranged between r = 0.69 (p < 0.01) and r = 0.43 (p < 0.01) in private school children, and between r = 0.07 (ns) and r = 0.32 (p < 0.01) in the underprivileged children. Maternal education interacted with height in affluent (r = 0.20, p < 0.01) and in underprivileged children (r = 0.20, p < 0.01). The shortness of SEPE disadvantaged children was not associated with anthropometric and clinical signs of malnutrition, nor with delay in physical development. Stunting is a complex phenomenon and may be considered a synonym of social disadvantage and poor parental education.

Stunting and Underweight, but not Wasting are Associated with Delay in Child Development in Southwest Ethiopia

“…34 However, it should be noted that developmental delay be a sign of social disadvantage and may not be totally attributable to malnutrition (stunting). 27,28 Evidence showed that stunting is not a significant factor associated with the risk of developmental delay (AOR=1.36; 0.85, 2.15) or low development (AOR=0.92; 0.48, 1.78). 26 This might opt to search for potential underlying causes of developmental delay related to aflatoxin exposure, social disadvantage and other potentially interacting factors hindering children development.…”

“…26 This might opt to search for potential underlying causes of developmental delay related to aflatoxin exposure, social disadvantage and other potentially interacting factors hindering children development. 27,28 Multipronged stunting prevention strategies, such as ensuring food security, improving caregiver knowledge and understanding, and providing proper health care, should be strengthened to ensure long-term achievement of optimal child development. Hence, holistic nurturing care covering the nutritional, social, and psychological aspects of children's lives is critical to halting the bad cycle of poverty, malnutrition, and economic development.…”

“…The sample size was estimated using both single proportion sample size estimation and sample size calculation for cross sectional to study for the first and second objectives of the study. For the first objective, we assumed a 95% confidence level, prevalence of delay in child development (19%) from previous study conducted in Ethiopia (28), and 5% significant value and a minimum of 236 samples were required.…”

Longitudinal Associations between Intake of Fruit and Vegetables and Height Attainment from Preschool to School Entry

“…We know that height trajectories are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous health advantages [ 52 ]. Parental education, a socioeconomic determinant, has been associated with both stunting and dietary intake patterns, and was therefore considered relevant in the context of the dietary patterns and height relations [ 53 ]. Finally, we analyzed fruit and vegetables both combined and separately.…”

Fear, violence, inequality, and stunting in Guatemala

“…According to a 2006 study by the Population Council, only 39% of Maya women are literate compared to 77% Ladino women, 68% of Maya men, and 87% Ladino men (https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057%26context=departments_sbsr-pgy). Poverty, social disadvantage, gender inequality, number of years of schooling, literacy, and related education variables are often the strongest correlates of human growth in height (Scheffler et al, 2021). For more than a century in Guatemala, the upstream governmental policies of systematic under‐funding for Maya education have maintained intergenerational cycles of inequality and the stagnation of Maya growth in height.…”