Does maternal empowerment influence childhood stunting and wasting in Cameroon? A cross-sectional study

Bibliographic Data

ID12893665
AuthorsDimitri Tchakounté Tchuimi (0000-0001-8405-6826, Université de Yaoundé I, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume18
Issue2
Pages263-281
Publication date2022-11-09
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueVulnerable Children and Youth Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1745-0136 • E-ISSN: 1745-0128
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17450128.2022.2141405
OpenAlexW4308885758
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited35

Malnutrition during childhood remains a major public health concern in developing countries. Within the household, the responsibility of the mother in child nutrition is crucial. Their empowerment is recognized by previous research as a social factor associated with low rates of malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from the Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey of 2018, this study investigates the associations between the dimensions of maternal empowerment and childhood stunting and wasting. A logistic regression model was used to estimate these associations. Considering each dimension of maternal empowerment, the results suggest that mother’s economic status was associated with greater odds of childhood stunting (OR = 1.110; 95% CI:1.014, 1.215; p < 0.05), and lower odds of childhood wasting (OR = 0.456; 95% CI: 0.373, 0.557; p < 0.01). Mother’s control over financial resources was associated with lower odds of childhood stunting (OR = 0.696; 95% CI: 0.642, 0.756; p < 0.01) and wasting (OR = 0.362; 95% CI: 0.309, 0.424; p < 0.01). Mother’s participation in decision-making was related to lower odds of childhood stunting (OR = 0.878; 95% CI: 0.826, 0.933; p < 0.01) and wasting (OR = 0.699; 95% CI: 0.622, 0.786; p < 0.01). Thus, the findings of this study suggest that maternal empowerment dimensions associated differently with childhood stunting and wasting. For a better effectiveness of any policy intervention, it is important to clarify the contribution of each dimension of maternal empowerment when analyzing its relationship with the nutritional status of children

Cross-sectional study · Developmental psychology · Early childhood · Economic growth · Empowerment · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Malnutrition · Odds · Odds ratio · Psychological intervention · Public health · Sociology · Wasting · Women's empowerment · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology

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