Determinants of household child stunting in Uganda: a panel data study

Abstract

The major objective of the study was to examine the determinants of household child stunting in Uganda. Specifically, it examined the effect of household socio-economic characteristics on child stunting and investigated the effect of child characteristics on their nutritional outcomes specifically stunting. Secondary data analysis was conducted based on the Uganda National Household Panel Surveys (UNPSs) conducted in 2013/14 and 2015/16. A total weighted sample of 2,194 and 1,565 respondents with under-five children in 2013/14 and 2015/16 respectively was used for analysis. Logistic based decomposition analysis technique was used for analyzing the determinants of household child stunting in this case stunting in Uganda. All analyses were weighted for the sampling probabilities and non-response. Results from decomposition analysis show that about 71 percent of the reduction in under five child stunting was attributed to the differences in the composition of the respondents with under-five children while about 29 percent reduction in under-five child stunting was due to the differences in the effect of the selected explanatory variable. Covariates that were significantly related with under-five stunting were sex of the household head, household size, household source of income, relationship with the child and child’s age. In detail, the increase in more female headed families between 2013/14 and 2015/16 significantly contributed to the reduction in under-five child stunting by 8.20 percent. Similarly, an increase in child’s age from 49 to 59 months significantly contributed to the reduction in under-five child stunting by 15.45 percent. In addition, the increase in remittances as a household’s source of income significantly contributed to the reduction in under-five child stunting under the study period by 0.38 percent. Furthermore, the increase in more fathers and other care givers being related to the children significantly contributed to the reduction in under-five child stunting by 4.36 percent. On the other hand, the increase in household size of 8 to 10 significantly contributed to the increase in under-five child stunting under the study period by 4.36 percent. All in all, the prevalence of stunting in under-five children declined from 35.22% in 2013/14 to 31.03% in 2015/16 and the study therefore recommends that micronutrient supplementation and the promotion of breastfeeding as part of an integrated health and nutrition package are paramount for stunting to reduce among under-five children.