Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries
Abstract Introduction Child malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge globally. Childhood wasting, a severe form of malnutrition, indicates acute undernutrition, leading to significant loss of muscle and fat tissue. The World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target aims to reduce...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21673-z |
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| author | Tadesse Tarik Tamir Alebachew Ferede Zegeye Belayneh Shetie Workneh Mohammed Seid Ali Almaz Tefera Gonete Masresha Asmare Techane Mulugeta Wassie Alemneh Tadesse Kassie Medina Abdela Ahmed Sintayehu Simie Tsega Yilkal Abebaw Wassie Berhan Tekeba Enyew Getaneh Mekonen |
| author_facet | Tadesse Tarik Tamir Alebachew Ferede Zegeye Belayneh Shetie Workneh Mohammed Seid Ali Almaz Tefera Gonete Masresha Asmare Techane Mulugeta Wassie Alemneh Tadesse Kassie Medina Abdela Ahmed Sintayehu Simie Tsega Yilkal Abebaw Wassie Berhan Tekeba Enyew Getaneh Mekonen |
| author_sort | Tadesse Tarik Tamir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Child malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge globally. Childhood wasting, a severe form of malnutrition, indicates acute undernutrition, leading to significant loss of muscle and fat tissue. The World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target aims to reduce childhood wasting to less than 5% in over half of low- and middle-income countries by 2025. The enduring hunger crisis in Africa is a complex issue that demands our continuous commitment, innovative solutions, and coordinated efforts. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of childhood wasting in Africa. Method This study conducted a secondary analysis of demographic and health survey datasets from 2010 to 2022 in 35 African countries. A total of 212,715 children under the age of 5 years were included, using a weighted sample. We employed a mixed-effects model to evaluate the factors associated with childhood wasting. The significance of the fixed effects was assessed using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval. Result The prevalence of childhood wasting in Africa was estimated to be 7.16% (95% CI: 7.05–7.27). Several factors were significantly associated with childhood wasting, including the child’s age, male gender, birth weight, maternal education level, wealth index, lack of antenatal care (ANC) visits, home delivery, multiple gestational births, and rural residence. Conclusion Childhood wasting in Africa exceeds the global target set for 2025, which aims to reduce it to less than 5%. To address this critical issue, educating mothers without formal education and rural residents about antenatal care visits, institutional delivery, and proper child feeding practices is essential. Moreover, a renewed focus on tackling the multifaceted factors of undernutrition, strengthening health systems, and implementing evidence-based interventions tailored to the local context is crucial for achieving meaningful and sustained reductions in wasting prevalence across the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-35b262bf6a0b4be18b3fa5e7102ba967 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-35b262bf6a0b4be18b3fa5e7102ba9672025-02-09T12:58:45ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111310.1186/s12889-025-21673-zChildhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countriesTadesse Tarik Tamir0Alebachew Ferede Zegeye1Belayneh Shetie Workneh2Mohammed Seid Ali3Almaz Tefera Gonete4Masresha Asmare Techane5Mulugeta Wassie6Alemneh Tadesse Kassie7Medina Abdela Ahmed8Sintayehu Simie Tsega9Yilkal Abebaw Wassie10Berhan Tekeba11Enyew Getaneh Mekonen12Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarSchool of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarAbstract Introduction Child malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge globally. Childhood wasting, a severe form of malnutrition, indicates acute undernutrition, leading to significant loss of muscle and fat tissue. The World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target aims to reduce childhood wasting to less than 5% in over half of low- and middle-income countries by 2025. The enduring hunger crisis in Africa is a complex issue that demands our continuous commitment, innovative solutions, and coordinated efforts. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of childhood wasting in Africa. Method This study conducted a secondary analysis of demographic and health survey datasets from 2010 to 2022 in 35 African countries. A total of 212,715 children under the age of 5 years were included, using a weighted sample. We employed a mixed-effects model to evaluate the factors associated with childhood wasting. The significance of the fixed effects was assessed using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval. Result The prevalence of childhood wasting in Africa was estimated to be 7.16% (95% CI: 7.05–7.27). Several factors were significantly associated with childhood wasting, including the child’s age, male gender, birth weight, maternal education level, wealth index, lack of antenatal care (ANC) visits, home delivery, multiple gestational births, and rural residence. Conclusion Childhood wasting in Africa exceeds the global target set for 2025, which aims to reduce it to less than 5%. To address this critical issue, educating mothers without formal education and rural residents about antenatal care visits, institutional delivery, and proper child feeding practices is essential. Moreover, a renewed focus on tackling the multifaceted factors of undernutrition, strengthening health systems, and implementing evidence-based interventions tailored to the local context is crucial for achieving meaningful and sustained reductions in wasting prevalence across the region.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21673-zChildrenWastingFactorsAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Tadesse Tarik Tamir Alebachew Ferede Zegeye Belayneh Shetie Workneh Mohammed Seid Ali Almaz Tefera Gonete Masresha Asmare Techane Mulugeta Wassie Alemneh Tadesse Kassie Medina Abdela Ahmed Sintayehu Simie Tsega Yilkal Abebaw Wassie Berhan Tekeba Enyew Getaneh Mekonen Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries BMC Public Health Children Wasting Factors Africa |
| title | Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries |
| title_full | Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries |
| title_fullStr | Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries |
| title_short | Childhood wasting and associated factors in Africa: evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries |
| title_sort | childhood wasting and associated factors in africa evidence from standard demographic and health surveys from 35 countries |
| topic | Children Wasting Factors Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21673-z |
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