Higher maternal autonomy is associated with reduced child stunting in Malawi.

ABSTRACT: Child undernutrition is a major health problem in Malawi. We assessed the association between maternal autonomy and child stunting in Malawi. We utilized nationally representative pooled cross-sectional data from the 2010 and 2015/16 Malawi Demographic and Health Surveys (MDHS), which included 7348 mother (28.1?±?6.8 years, range 15-49 years)-child (27.6?±?16.7 months, range 0-59 months) pairs. Maternal autonomy composite scores captured decision-making power, tolerance of domestic violence, and financial independence. The nutritional outcome measure was stunting (height-for-age z score?

SUBMITTER: Chilinda ZB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7886910 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature