Maternal Occupation and Child Stunting in Urban Karachi: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background Child stunting remains a major public health issue in Pakistan, with structural and socioeconomic determinants driving outcomes. While maternal education and empowerment have been widely studied, the role of maternal occupation type (professional vs. non-professional) in shaping child nutritional status remains unclear. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 420 mother–child pairs (<5 years) attending two hospitals in Karachi. Maternal occupation was categorized as professional/technical/managerial vs. non-professional/unemployed. Child nutritional status was assessed using WHO criteria. Chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression were employed to examine associations, adjusting for confounders (education, income, family structure, empowerment). Results Overall, 44.2% of children were stunted. Children of professionally employed mothers had significantly lower stunting prevalence (29.4%) compared to non-professional/unemployed mothers (47.1%; χ²=8.12, p=0.004). Adjusted logistic regression confirmed the protective effect of professional maternal occupation against stunting (aOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.31–0.87, p=0.012). Subgroup analyses revealed the protective effect was stronger in boys (aOR=0.44, CI: 0.23–0.83) than girls (aOR=0.61, CI: 0.33–1.15). Interaction models suggested maternal education amplified the occupation effect. Conclusions Professional maternal occupation independently reduces child stunting risk, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Policies promoting women’s entry into professional sectors may provide downstream benefits for child nutrition.
Hafiza Syeda Samrina, Eiman Kalsoom