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. 2023 Apr 12;20(8):5489.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20085489.

Socio-Economic Inequalities in the Double Burden of Malnutrition among under-Five Children: Evidence from 10 Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries

Olufunke A Alaba  1 , Plaxcedes Chiwire  2   3 , Aggrey Siya  4 , Oluremi A Saliu  5 , Karen Nhakaniso  6 , Emmanuella Nzeribe  7 , Denis Okova  1 , Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa  1   8
Affiliations

Socio-Economic Inequalities in the Double Burden of Malnutrition among under-Five Children: Evidence from 10 Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries

Olufunke A Alaba et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Africa is unlikely to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 due to public health problems such as the double burden of malnutrition (DBM). Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of DBM and degree of socio-economic inequality in double burden of malnutrition among children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This study used multi-country data collected by the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Data for this analysis were drawn from the DHS women's questionnaire focusing on children under 5 years. The outcome variable for this study was the double burden of malnutrition (DBM). This variable was computed from four indicators: stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight. Inequalities in DBM among children under 5 years were measured using concentration indices (CI).

Results: The total number of children included in this analysis was 55,285. DBM was highest in Burundi (26.74%) and lowest in Senegal (8.80%). The computed adjusted Erreygers Concentration Indices showed pro-poor socio-economic child health inequalities relative to the double burden of malnutrition. The DBM pro-poor inequalities were most intense in Zimbabwe (-0.0294) and least intense in Burundi (-0.2206).

Conclusions: This study has shown that across SSA, among under-five children, the poor suffer more from the DBM relative to the wealthy. If we are not to leave any child behind, we must address these socio-economic inequalities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: SES inequality; SSA; concentration indices; double burden of malnutrition; under 5 years.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A–D) Prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight and overweight by country.
Figure 1
Figure 1
(A–D) Prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight and overweight by country.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Double burden of malnutrition by country.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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