Prevalence and risk factors for stunting among children under 5 years: a community based study from Jhangara town, Dadu Sindh.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and the associated risk factors for stunting in Jhangara Town, Dadu Sindh.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jhangara Town, located in district Dadu, rural Sindh. A total of 800 children less than 5 years of age were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to elicit required information and anthropometric measurements were made.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence for stunting was 61% in the study population, which was higher than the prevalence reported by Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) 1990/91. In multivariate analysis various risk factors for stunting were ethnicity (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.27- 3.57) and birth interval < two years (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.99).


CONCLUSIONS
A large number of children below 5 years of age were stunted. Ethnicity and birth interval less than 2 years were the important risk factors.
Farid-ul-Hasnain
Syed
S
Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sophie
Raafay
R
D000886:Anthropometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires