Peer-reviewed article
Moderate and severe household food insecurity predicts stunting and severe stunting among Rwanda children aged 6–59 months residing in Gicumbi district
Kingsley E. Agho, Christine Mukabutera, Monica Mukazi, Michael Ntambara, Irene Mbugua et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This cross-sectional study looked at whether household food insecurity is linked to stunting among 2,222 children aged 6–59 months in Gicumbi district, Rwanda. Households were grouped as food secure, or as mildly, moderately or severely food insecure, using seven questions about access to food. Children from moderately and severely food insecure households were more likely to be stunted and severely stunted than children from food secure households. Being male and not attending monthly growth monitoring sessions were also linked to stunting. The authors suggest that stunting programmes in the district should target these groups.
Key points
- The study included 2,222 children aged 6–59 months in Gicumbi district, Rwanda.
- Moderate and severe household food insecurity were linked to higher odds of stunting (AOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.11–1.84 and AOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08–1.69).
- Children from moderately food insecure households were 2.47 times more likely to be severely stunted (95% CI 1.77–3.46).
- Children from severely food insecure households were more likely to be severely stunted (AOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.34–2.48).
- Male children and children who did not attend monthly growth monitoring sessions were also more likely to be stunted.
Limitations
A cross-sectional design shows association only and cannot establish that food insecurity causes stunting or show the order of events. The abstract covers one district and does not describe how food insecurity was measured beyond the seven access questions, so results may not apply to the rest of Rwanda.
Abstract
AbstractHousehold food insecurity (HFI) plays an important role in child malnutrition in many low‐income countries. We determined the association between HFI and stunting and severe stunting among Rwandan children from the Gicumbi district, aged 6–59 months using a cross‐sectional study of 2,222 children. HFI factor was calculated by summing all seven HFI (access) frequency questions and was categorised into food security, mildly food insecurity, moderately food insecurity, and severe food insecurity. The association between stunting, severe stunting, and HFI was determined using the multiple logistic regression analyses that adjust for clustering and sampling weights. The odds of moderate and severe HFI were significantly higher among stunted children aged 6–59 months than those who were not stunted (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.11, 1.84] and AOR = 1.35; 95% CI [1.08, 1.69], respectively). Children from households with moderate food insecurity were 2.47 times more likely to be severely stunted (AOR = 2.47; 95% CI [1.77, 3.46]), and those from households with severe food insecurity were more likely to be severely stunted (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI [1.34, 2.48]), compared with children aged 6–59 months from households with food security. Other factors included male children and children who did not attend monthly growth monitoring sessions. This study showed that moderate and severe HFI correlated with stunting and severe stunting. Interventions to improve stunting in Gicumbi children should also focus on male children, children who did not attend monthly growth monitoring sessions, and households with moderate and severe food insecurity.