Factors Associated With Stunting Among Children (Below 2 Years): A Case of Rutsiro District, Rwanda

Saturday, 27 July 2019

Godfrey Katende, DNP, RN1
Joselyne Rugema, MSN2
Etienne Nsereko, MSN3
Manasse Nzayirambaho, PhD4
Nadine Urujeni, PhD5
Madeleine Mukeshimana, PhD, RN6
Patricia Moreland, PhD2
Pacific Mukangabire, MSN2
Ivan Mwikarago, PhD7
Cyprien Munyanshongore, PhD8
(1)Department of Nursing and Midwifery, New York University, Rory Meyers School of Nursing and University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health, Kigali, Rwanda
(2)School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kigali, Rwanda
(3)Department of Anesthesia, University of Rwanda, School of Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
(4)Public health, University of Rwanda, School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda
(5)School of Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, School of Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
(6)School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda/College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
(7)LAB DEPARTMENT, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda
(8)School of School of Public health, University of Rwanda, School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda

Introduction:

Stunting contributes substantially to the overall global burden of disease in children below five years of age. Stunting is associated with decreased neurodevelopment, irreversible cognitive deficits, limited educational achievement and low economic productivity as an adult. In Rwanda, 38% of children below 5 years of age were stunted (RDHS, 2015). Determining the factors of childhood stunting is essential for the development of effective preventative strategies.

Purpose:

The main objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with stunting among children two-years of age in Rutsiro District, Rwanda.

Methods:

A secondary data analysis was conducted for data collected in Rutsiro District, Rwanda. The data consisted of children below 2-year-old who were enrolled in the current study. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regressions were conducted to determine the associated factors of stunting in Rutsiro District in Rwanda.

Results:

Findings Revealed that severe hunger (OR: .45, p ≤ .001), lower wealth category (OR: 3.4, p ≤ .001), used water from an unprotected source (OR: 3.7, p ≤ .001), used untreated drinking water (OR: 2.5, p ≤ .001), had unimproved toilet (OR: 19.2, p ≤ .001), practiced unsafe stool disposal (OR: 1.5, p < .001), child did not receiving minimum dietary diversity (OR: 1.50, p ≤ .023), and child not receiving micronutrients powder (OR: 1.9, p ≤ .001) were the factors associated with stunting in children below 2 years in Rutsiro District, Rwanda.

Conclusions:

Several factors have been implicated in stunting among children below 2-years of age. Severe hunger, low social economic, unsafe or unhygienic water, unimproved sanitation environment, unsafe waste disposal behaviors and issues related to diet are some of the factors that need to be considered and explicated in the stunting problem. Knowledge of these factors is essential for putting strategies that target prevention of stunting among children. The Rwandan Ministry of Health is working towards achievement of the SDGs for better child health outcomes.

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