title: How important are community characteristics in influencing children׳s nutritional status? Evidence from Malawi population-based household and community surveys.
abstract: Using the 2004 data from the Malawi Integrated Household Survey and the Malawi Community Survey, this study investigates the influence of community characteristics on stunting among children under five years of age in a rural context. Multilevel logistic regression modelling on 4284 children with stunting as the dependent variable shows that availability of daily markets and lineage defined in terms of patrilineal or matrilineal communities were significant community determinants of childhood stunting in Malawi. There were significant differences in socio-economic status between household heads from matrilineal and patrilineal communities. Implementation of strategies that empower communities and households economically such as supporting the establishment of community daily markets and promoting household income generating opportunities can effectively reduce the burden of childhood stunting in Malawi.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, Building 58, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: L.C.Chikhungu@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lana Clara
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chikhungu
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, Building 58, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: N.J.Madise@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nyovani Janet
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Madise
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, Building 58, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: S.Padmadas@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sabu S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Padmadas
mesh_terms: D000067576:Child Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012111:Residence Characteristics
keywords: Child under-nutrition; Community characteristics; Lineage; Malawi; Stunting