Prevalence and associated factors of stunting, wasting and underweight of children below five using quintile regression analysis (PDHS 2017-2018)

The objective of the current study is to identify the risk factors for malnutrition among the age of under-five children's in Pakistan. This is secondary data analysis for the data taken from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS 2017-18) and was analyzed by implementing quantile regression analysis. The sample size included 12,708 alive children in the study, for which the data collection period was from November 22, 2017, to April 30, 2018. The prevalence of malnutrition among boys is high (51.2%). Older age mother's children have more prevalence of malnutrition (20.7%). A child born with small body size (underweight: Q(0.25): - 0.625; Q(0.50): - 0.623; Q(0.75): - 0.426 and wasting: Q(0.50): - 0.513); having uneducated mother (underweight: Q(0.25): - 0.387; Q(0.50): - 0.247; Q(0.75): - 0.328), belonged to a poor household (underweight: Q(0.50): - 0.251),residing in rural areas (underweight: Q(0.25): - 0.443), not following properly breastfeeding practices (underweight: Q(0.50): - 0.439; Q(0.75): - 0.438) have negative effect on different measures of malnutrition and this effect is significantly raises across different quantiles of stunting , wasting and underweight (at p value<0.01 and<0.05). Older age mother (stunting: Q(0.50): 0.777; Q(0.75): 1.078; underweight Q(0.20): 0.568; Q(0.50): 0.429; Q(0.75): 0.524) and higher birth order number (stunting: Q(0.50): 0.415; Q(0.75): 0.535), have a positive effect on three measures of under-nutrition and this effect is gradual raises at different quantile of stunting, wasting and underweight. Elder and smoker mothers were proved associated risk factors of both stunting and being underweight in Pakistan. Moreover, Proper breastfeeding practices, better economic status, average or above the average birth weight of the child, and milk consumption are found protective factors against stunting, wasting, and underweight children in Pakistan.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for malnutrition among under-five children in Pakistan. The study analyzed data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS 2017-18) using quantile regression analysis. The findings showed that malnutrition was more prevalent among boys and children of older mothers. Factors such as small body size at birth, maternal education level, household poverty, rural residence, and inadequate breastfeeding practices had a negative effect on different measures of malnutrition. On the other hand, older maternal age and higher birth order number had a positive effect on under-nutrition. Elderly and smoking mothers were identified as associated risk factors for both stunting and being underweight. Proper breastfeeding practices, better economic status, average or above-average birth weight, and milk consumption were found to be protective factors against malnutrition in Pakistan.