Children born during the hunger season are at a higher risk of severe acute malnutrition

Findings from a Guinea Sahelian ecological zone in Northern Ghana

Bibliographic Data

ID15535860
AuthorsEngelbert A Nonterah (0000-0001-8491-6478, Utrecht University, corresponding author), Paul Welaga (0000-0002-0108-3384, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Samuel T Chatio (Navrongo Health Research Centre Ghana Health Service Navrongo Ghana), Samuel Chatio (0000-0001-9998-748X, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Sarah H Kehoe (0000-0003-2584-7999, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust), Winfred Ofosu (Ghana Health Service), Kate A Ward (0000-0001-7034-6750, University of the Witwatersrand), Keith M Godfrey (0000-0003-3025-5269, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust), Abraham Oduro (0000-0002-4191-7419, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Abraham R Oduro (Navrongo Health Research Centre Ghana Health Service Navrongo Ghana), Marie-Louise Newell (0000-0002-1074-7699, University of the Witwatersrand), Marie‐Louise Newell (Department of Human Development University of Southampton Southampton UK)
Year2022
Volume18
Issue2
Pagese13313-e13313
Publication date2022-01-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.13313
PMID35008126
OpenAlexW4206571831
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited34

Heightened food insecurity in the hunger season increases the risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in childhood. This study examined the association of season of birth with SAM in a Guinean Sahelian ecological zone. We analyzed routine health and sociodemographic surveillance data from the Navrongo Health and Socio-demographic Surveillance System collected between 2011 and 2018. January-June, the period of highest food insecurity, was defined as the hunger season. We defined moderate acute malnutrition as child mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) between 115 mm and 135 mm and SAM as MAUC ≤ 115 mm. We used adjusted logistic regression to quantify the association between the season of birth and SAM in children aged 6-35 months. From the 29,452 children studied, 24% had moderate acute malnutrition. Overall, 1.4% had SAM, with a higher prevalence (1.8%) in the hunger season of birth. Compared with those born October-December, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for SAM were increased for children born in the hunger season: January-March (1.77 [1.31-2.39]) and April-June (1.92 [1.44-2.56]). Low birth weight, age at an assessment of nutritional status, and ethno-linguistic group were also significantly associated with SAM in adjusted analyses. Our study established that being born in the hunger season is associated with a higher risk of severe acute malnutrition. The result implies improvement in the food supply to pregnant and lactating mothers through sustainable agriculture or food system change targeting the hunger season may reduce the burden of severe acute malnutrition

Confidence interval · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Malnutrition · Odds ratio · Season of birth · Severe Acute Malnutrition · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics