Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana

Introduction: Undernutrition, specifically stunting, continues to be a major public health concern, especially in Africa and Asia. The World Health Organization targets a 40% reduction in stunting by 2025. However, there has been no known scholarly work to assess the stunting situation in the Savann...

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Main Authors: Cyril Kwami Azornu, Abubakari Ibrahim, Adjei Kwabena Sarfo, Magdalene Akos Odikro, George Akowuah, Gyesi Razak Issahaku, Abdul-Jaleel Mumuni, Delia Akosua Bandoh, Ernest Kenu, Chrysantus Kubio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: African Field Epidemiology Network 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
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Online Access:https://afenet-journal.org/five-year-review-on-prevalence-of-stunting-among-children-under-five-years-in-savannah-region-ghana/
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author Cyril Kwami Azornu
Abubakari Ibrahim
Adjei Kwabena Sarfo
Magdalene Akos Odikro
George Akowuah
Gyesi Razak Issahaku
Abdul-Jaleel Mumuni
Delia Akosua Bandoh
Ernest Kenu
Chrysantus Kubio
author_facet Cyril Kwami Azornu
Abubakari Ibrahim
Adjei Kwabena Sarfo
Magdalene Akos Odikro
George Akowuah
Gyesi Razak Issahaku
Abdul-Jaleel Mumuni
Delia Akosua Bandoh
Ernest Kenu
Chrysantus Kubio
author_sort Cyril Kwami Azornu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Undernutrition, specifically stunting, continues to be a major public health concern, especially in Africa and Asia. The World Health Organization targets a 40% reduction in stunting by 2025. However, there has been no known scholarly work to assess the stunting situation in the Savannah Region in line with the WHO’s target. This study described the trends and geographical distribution of stunting among children under five in the Savannah region of Ghana from 2017 to 2021. Method: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted to analyze secondary data on stunting from routine service provision from 2017-2021. Data extracted from the District Health Information Management Systems version 2 was cleaned and analyzed with Microsoft Excel version 2021 and ArcMap version 10.3. Proportions were calculated and the results were presented as tables, charts, and geospatial maps. Results: The proportion of children under five measured for stunting increased from 14.6% (14,694/100,417) in 2017 to 70.7% (92,309/130,653) in 2021. Over the period, the prevalence of stunting among children under five was 1.1% (2591/246691). There was a decreasing trend in the prevalence of stunting from 1.80% (265/14,694) in 2017 to 0.85% (782/92309) in 2021. The West Gonja, Central Gonja, and North-East Gonja districts recorded the highest prevalence of stunting while the East Gonja municipality recorded the lowest prevalence. Conclusion: The prevalence of stunting in this study was very low compared to the global and national prevalence. A decreasing trend was observed over the period. Measures should be put in place to ensure all stunting cases are detected early.
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spelling doaj-art-b3e4360284064e91ba22827faa87453b2025-08-20T03:07:54ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242025-04-01821https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-24-02056Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, GhanaCyril Kwami Azornu0Abubakari Ibrahim1Adjei Kwabena Sarfo2Magdalene Akos Odikro3George Akowuah4Gyesi Razak Issahaku5Abdul-Jaleel Mumuni6Delia Akosua Bandoh7Ernest Kenu8Chrysantus Kubio9Salaga Municipal Hospital, Savannah Region, Ghana Health Service, Salaga, 2Catholic University of Ghana, School of Public Health & Allied Sciences, Fiapre-SunyaniRegional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Damongo, Savannah Region, GhanaRegional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Damongo, Savannah Region, GhanaGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, AccraTamale Teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, Tamale, GhanaNorth East Gonja District Health Directorate, Kpalbe, Savannah Region, Ghana Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, AccraGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, AccraRegional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Damongo, Savannah Region, GhanaIntroduction: Undernutrition, specifically stunting, continues to be a major public health concern, especially in Africa and Asia. The World Health Organization targets a 40% reduction in stunting by 2025. However, there has been no known scholarly work to assess the stunting situation in the Savannah Region in line with the WHO’s target. This study described the trends and geographical distribution of stunting among children under five in the Savannah region of Ghana from 2017 to 2021. Method: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted to analyze secondary data on stunting from routine service provision from 2017-2021. Data extracted from the District Health Information Management Systems version 2 was cleaned and analyzed with Microsoft Excel version 2021 and ArcMap version 10.3. Proportions were calculated and the results were presented as tables, charts, and geospatial maps. Results: The proportion of children under five measured for stunting increased from 14.6% (14,694/100,417) in 2017 to 70.7% (92,309/130,653) in 2021. Over the period, the prevalence of stunting among children under five was 1.1% (2591/246691). There was a decreasing trend in the prevalence of stunting from 1.80% (265/14,694) in 2017 to 0.85% (782/92309) in 2021. The West Gonja, Central Gonja, and North-East Gonja districts recorded the highest prevalence of stunting while the East Gonja municipality recorded the lowest prevalence. Conclusion: The prevalence of stunting in this study was very low compared to the global and national prevalence. A decreasing trend was observed over the period. Measures should be put in place to ensure all stunting cases are detected early.https://afenet-journal.org/five-year-review-on-prevalence-of-stunting-among-children-under-five-years-in-savannah-region-ghana/undernutrition; stuntingchildren under fivesavannah region
spellingShingle Cyril Kwami Azornu
Abubakari Ibrahim
Adjei Kwabena Sarfo
Magdalene Akos Odikro
George Akowuah
Gyesi Razak Issahaku
Abdul-Jaleel Mumuni
Delia Akosua Bandoh
Ernest Kenu
Chrysantus Kubio
Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
undernutrition; stunting
children under five
savannah region
title Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana
title_full Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana
title_fullStr Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana
title_short Five-year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in Savannah Region, Ghana
title_sort five year review on prevalence of stunting among children under five years in savannah region ghana
topic undernutrition; stunting
children under five
savannah region
url https://afenet-journal.org/five-year-review-on-prevalence-of-stunting-among-children-under-five-years-in-savannah-region-ghana/
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