Comparison of a possession score and a poverty index in predicting anaemia and undernutrition in pre-school children and women of reproductive age in rural and urban Côte d'Ivoire.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a possession score or a poverty index best predicts undernutrition and anaemia in women of reproductive age (15-49 years; WRA) and children aged 6-59 months living in Côte d'Ivoire.


METHODS
Anthropometric measurements were converted to Z-scores to assess stunting, wasting and underweight in children, and converted to BMI in WRA. A venous blood sample was drawn, and Hb concentration and Plasmodium spp. infection were determined. A possession score was generated with categories of zero to four possessions. A five-point (quintile) poverty index using household assets was created using principal component analysis. These socio-economic measures were compared for their ability to predict anaemia and malnutrition.


METHODS
Data were from a nationally representative survey conducted in Côte d'Ivoire in 2007.


METHODS
A sample of 768 WRA and 717 children aged 6-59 months was analysed.


RESULTS
Overall, 74·9 % of children and 50·2 % of WRA were anaemic; 39·5 % of the children were stunted, 28·1 % underweight and 12·8 % wasted, while 7·4 % of WRA had BMI < 18·5 kg/m2. In general, there were more stunted and underweight children and thin WRA in rural areas. The poverty index showed a stronger relationship with nutritional status than the possession score; mean Hb difference between the poorest and wealthiest quintiles in children and WRA was 8·2 g/l and 6·5 g/l, respectively (13·9 % and 19·8 % difference in anaemia, respectively; P < 0·001), and Z-scores and BMI were significantly better in the wealthiest quintile (P < 0·001).


CONCLUSIONS
The poverty index was generally a better predictor of undernutrition in WRA and pre-school children than the possession score.
GAIN - Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, PO Box 55, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. frohner@gainhealth.org
Fabian
F
Rohner
Andres B
AB
Tschannen
Christine
C
Northrop-Clewes
Valérie
V
Kouassi-Gohou
Patrice E
PE
Bosso
C G Nicholas
CG
Mascie-Taylor
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins