Does economic growth reduce childhood stunting? a multicountry analysis of 89 demographic and health surveys in sub-Saharan Africa

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dc.contributor.authorYaya, Sannien_ZA
dc.contributor.authorUthman, Olalekan A.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKunnuji, Michaelen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNavaneetham, Kannanen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAkinyemi, Joshua O.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKananura, Rornald Muhumuzaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAdjiwanou, Vissehoen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAdetokunboh, Olatunjien_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBishwajit, Ghoseen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-04T08:08:25Z
dc.date.available2022-05-04T08:08:25Z
dc.date.issued2020-01
dc.descriptionCITATION: Yaya, Sanni et al. 2020. Does economic growth reduce childhood stunting? A multicountry analysis of 89 demographic and health surveys in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Global Health, 5:e002042, doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002042.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at: https://gh.bmj.com
dc.description.abstractBackground: There is mixed evidence and lack of consensus on the impact of economic development on stunting, and likewise there is a dearth of empirical studies on this relationship in the case of sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this paper examines whether economic growth is associated with childhood stunting in low-income and middle-income sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: We analysed data from 89 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1987 and 2016 available as of October 2018 using multivariable multilevel logistic regression models to show the association between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and stunting. We adjusted the models for child’s age, survey year, child’s sex, birth order and country random effect, and presented adjusted and unadjusted ORs. Results: We included data from 490 526 children. We found that the prevalence of stunting decreased with increasing GDP per capita (correlation coefficient=−0.606, p<0.0001). In the unadjusted model for full sample, for every US$1000 increase in GDP per capita, the odds of stunting decreased by 23% (OR=0.77, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.78). The magnitude of the association between GDP per capita and stunting was stronger among children in the richest quintile. After adjustment was made, the association was not significant among children from the poorest quintile. However, the magnitude of the association was more pronounced among children from low-income countries, such that, in the model adjusted for child’s age, survey year, child’s sex, birth order and country random effect, the association between GDP per capita and stunting remained statistically significant; for every US$1000 increase in GDP per capita, the odds of stunting decreased by 12% (OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.90). Conclusion: There was no significant association between economic growth and child nutritional status. The prevalence of stunting decreased with increasing GDP per capita. This was more pronounced among children from the richest quintile. The magnitude of the association was higher among children from low-income countries, suggesting that households in the poorest quintile were typically the least likely to benefit from economic gains. The findings could serve as a building block needed to modify current policy as per child nutrition-related programmes in Africa.en_ZA
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent7 pages
dc.identifier.citationYaya, Sanni et al. 2020. Does economic growth reduce childhood stunting? A multicountry analysis of 89 demographic and health surveys in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Global Health, 5:e002042, doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002042
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002042
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/125184
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherBMJ Publishing
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectChildren -- Growth -- Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectChild development -- Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAnthropometry -- Economic aspectsen_ZA
dc.titleDoes economic growth reduce childhood stunting? a multicountry analysis of 89 demographic and health surveys in sub-Saharan Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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