Publication:

Demographic and socio-economic factors associated with stunting among children aged 0-23 months attending Sub-County Hospitals, Meru County, Kenya

Background Kenya has achieved a significant reduction in the levels of stunting over the years. However, stunting prevalence remains high in Meru County (25%) compared to the national level (18%). This study has explored the demographic and socio-economic factors associated with stunting among children aged 0-23 months attending the Sub-County Hospitals, Meru County, Kenya.

Methods A cross-sectional analytical study design was adopted. A total of 9 sub-county hospitals were purposively sampled. The number of study participants per each Sub- County hospital was determined proportionate to population size. A total of 318 study participants were sampled using systematic random sampling by selecting the first participant randomly and the rest at every 9th interval. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 25 software and ENA for SMART. A p value of <0.05 was statistically significant. Chi-Square test was used to establish relationships between the study variables and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals quantified the associations.

Results Child sex (AOR=2.364; 95% CI (0.884-6.325); p=0.047), child age category (AOR=0.255; 95% CI (0.084-0.769); p=0.015) & (AOR=0.126; 95% CI (0.030-0.526); p=0.015), birth weight (AOR=10.197; 95% CI (3.327-31.252); p=0), household monthly income (AOR=5.211; 95% CI (0.793-34.262); and spouse occupation (AOR=0.094; 95% CI (0.010-0.893); p=0.040 were associated with stunting.

Conclusion Child sex, child age, birth weight, household monthly income and spouse occupation were associated with stunting.