Stunting and Factors Associated with Stunting in Children under 5 Years Old in Viengthong District, Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR
Keywords:
Stunting, Children Under 5 Years Old, Child Feeding Practice, Lao PDRAbstract
Stunting is a major health problem in children under-5 years in many low and middle income countries including Lao PDR. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of stunting and factors associated with stunting among children under 5 years in Viengthong District, Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR. A total of 310 children aged 0–59 months and their mothers were included in the study. A structured questionnaire for face to face interview was used to collect data including general characteristics, child feeding practice, and personal hygiene. Height and weight of the children were measured by a trained investigator. Height-for-age z-scores (HFAz), generated using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference (2006) were used to define stunting (HFAz <-2SD) and severe stunting (HFAz <-3SD). Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine potential factors associated with stunting among children under 5 years. The results showed that 52.6% of the subjects were male, with the mean age of 24.8±16.2 months. The mean age of their mothers was 27.3±6.0 years. The tribes of the subjects were Lao-Lum, Lao-Sung and Lao-Theng for 43.6, 36.8 and 19.7 percent respectively. The prevalence of stunting was 33.9%, with severe stunting of 11.0%. Regarding child feeding practices, early initiative of breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding at the age of six months were 73.9% and 31.9% respectively. Factors statistically significantly associated with stunting were being male children (ORadj=1.82, 95% CI: 1.08-3.06, p= 0.023 ), children aged 12–35 months (ORadj=3.91, 95% CI: 1.93-7.91, p=0.001), and children aged ≥ 36 (ORadj=4.17, 95% CI: 1.85-9.38, p=0.001), living in a rural area (ORadj=2.11, 95% CI: 1.13–3.95, p=0.019) and belonging to the Lao-Sung tribe (ORadj= 2.32, 95% CI: 1.22–4.41, p=0.010). Conclusions, one-third of children under 5 years living in the study area were stunting which may lead to be NCDs in the future. The policy and interventions for reducing stunting in Lao PDR are urgently required by focusing on appropriate child feeding practices particularly in rural families with many children and belonging to the Lao-Sung tribe.
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