Child, maternal and household-level correlates of nutritional status: a cross-sectional study among young Samoan children.
OBJECTIVE
Young children are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition as nutrition transition progresses. The present study aimed to document the prevalence, coexistence and correlates of nutritional status (stunting, overweight/obesity and anaemia) in Samoan children aged 24-59 months.


METHODS
A cross-sectional community-based survey. Height and weight were used to determine prevalence of stunting (height-for-age Z-score +2) based on WHO growth standards. Anaemia was determined using an AimStrip Hemoglobin test system (Hb <110 g/l).


METHODS
Ten villages on the Samoan island of Upolu.


METHODS
Mother-child pairs (n 305) recruited using convenience sampling.


RESULTS
Moderate or severe stunting was apparent in 20·3 % of children, 16·1 % were overweight/obese and 34·1 % were anaemic. Among the overweight/obese children, 28·6 % were also stunted and 42·9 % anaemic, indicating dual burden of malnutrition. Stunting was significantly less likely among girls (OR=0·41; 95 % CI 0·21, 0·79, P<0·01) than boys. Overweight/obesity was associated with higher family socio-economic status and decreased sugar intake (OR per 10 g/d=0·89, 95 % CI 0·80, 0·99, P=0·032). The odds of anaemia decreased with age and anaemia was more likely in children with an anaemic mother (OR=2·20; 95 % CI 1·22, 3·98, P=0·007). No child, maternal or household characteristic was associated with more than one of the nutritional status outcomes, highlighting the need for condition-specific interventions in this age group.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed prevalences of stunting, overweight/obesity and anaemia suggest that it is critical to invest in nutrition and develop health programmes targeting early childhood growth and development in Samoa.
1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology,Yale School of Public Health,Yale University,60 College Street,New Haven,CT 06520-8034,USA.
Courtney C
CC
Choy
1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology,Yale School of Public Health,Yale University,60 College Street,New Haven,CT 06520-8034,USA.
Mayur M
MM
Desai
1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology,Yale School of Public Health,Yale University,60 College Street,New Haven,CT 06520-8034,USA.
Jennifer J
JJ
Park
2University of Michigan School of Public Health,Ann Arbor,MI,USA.
Elizabeth A
EA
Frame
1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology,Yale School of Public Health,Yale University,60 College Street,New Haven,CT 06520-8034,USA.
Avery A
AA
Thompson
3Ministry of Health,Samoa.
Take
T
Naseri
4Samoa Bureau of Statistics,Samoa.
Muagututia S
MS
Reupena
5Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (IPAN),Deakin University,Melbourne,Australia.
Rachel L
RL
Duckham
1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology,Yale School of Public Health,Yale University,60 College Street,New Haven,CT 06520-8034,USA.
Nicole C
NC
Deziel
1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology,Yale School of Public Health,Yale University,60 College Street,New Haven,CT 06520-8034,USA.
Nicola L
NL
Hawley
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009035:Mothers; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018947:Samoa; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Malnutrition; Nutrition transition; Nutritional status; Obesity; Samoa; Young children