Access of Households to Arable Land and Nutritional Status of Children Aged 6–59 Months in Rural Areas of South Kivu, Case of the Health Zone of Minova, Eastern DRC

Abstract

Already knowing enough about the determinants of malnutrition, this study set itself the objective of verifying the influence of access to arable land on the nutritional status of children aged 6 to 59 months in a rural Health Zone of the DRC in South Kivu (Minova) with very high prevalence of malnutrition (62% CM and 7.1% AM). A cross-sectional quantitative study conducted on a representative sample of 424 children aged 6 to 59 months selected using the Lynch formula by probabilistic stratum sampling; using a structured questionnaire. Malnutrition (acute and chronic) assessed on the basis of WHO growth standards served as the dependent variable and access to arable land considered according to the FAO definition was the main independent variable. Chi-square or Ficher tests were used to compare proportions and logistic regressions were used to determine the factors associated with malnutrition; the significance threshold set at 5%. The frequency of less than 3 meals per day and the low socio-economic level of households were associated with chronic malnutrition (p-value 0.046 and 0.007). Exclusive breastfeeding and unimproved source of drinking water were associated with acute malnutrition. Finally, no statistically significant association was found between access to arable land and the nutritional status of children aged 6 to 59 months. How land production and household incomes are allocated for other needs would also be part of the problem.