The Relationship between Stunting and Some Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors among Yemeni Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of sex, residence area, age group, school enrollment, poverty status, and income quintiles variables on the prevalence of stunting among Yemeni children and adolescents. The investigation was done on all children and adolescents (3004) aged 5-19 years and included in the last Yemeni Household Budget Survey (YHBS) data of 2005/2006. The data included a classification of the poverty status of surveyed households. The cutoff of -2 z scores of the height-for-age reference suggested by NCHS was used to calculate the prevalence rate of stunting. Descriptive, categorical testing, and logit modelling statistical analysis tools were used in the investigation. The statistical analysis shows the overall prevalence rate of stunting as 49.5% and the prevalence of stunting among males is higher than females. The prevalence of stunting among rural children and adolescents is higher than the urban children and adolescents, and it is higher among children and adolescents who were not enrolled than those enrolled. Children and adolescents of poor households were suffering from stunting (52.8%) as compared to children and adolescents of nonpoor households (47.7%). Children and adolescents living with the poorest, second, and middle-income households were 1.76, 1.73, and 1.46 times more likely to be stunted, respectively. The research provides an evidence that the childhood health situation in Yemen is chaotic and needs careful and effective cooperation and efforts both nationally and internationally to divert the foreseen danger looming.