Risk Factors of Standalone and Coexisting Forms of Undernutrition Among Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study Using Data from 26 Country-Based Demographic and Health Surveys.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a leading public health challenge. It accounts for one-third of the under-five mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study applied the composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) to assess the prevalence of various standalone and coexisting forms of undernutrition and identify associated risk factors.

Methods

Nationally representative demographic health survey (DHS) data from 26 SSA countries were used. A multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted considering the hierarchical nature of DHS data and more than two categories of outcome variable. Four models were fitted and the model with the highest log-likelihood and lowest deviance was chosen as the best-fit

SUBMITTER: Worku MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11767797 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature