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Ali Mansourian

Ali Mansourian

Professor

Ali Mansourian

Childhood stunting is highly clustered in Northern Province of Rwanda : A spatial analysis of a population-based study

Author

  • Albert Ndagijimana
  • Gilbert Nduwayezu
  • Clarisse Kagoyire
  • Kristina Elfving
  • Aline Umubyeyi
  • Ali Mansourian
  • Torbjörn Lind

Summary, in English

Background: In Northern Province, Rwanda, stunting is common among children aged under 5 years. However, previous studies on spatial analysis of childhood stunting in Rwanda did not assess its randomness and clustering, and none were conducted in Northern Province. We conducted a spatial-pattern analysis of childhood undernutrition to identify stunting clusters and hotspots for targeted interventions in Northern Province. Methods: Using a household population-based questionnaire survey of the characteristics and causes of undernutrition in households with biological mothers of children aged 1–36 months, we collected anthropometric measurements of the children and their mothers and captured the coordinates of the households. Descriptive statistics were computed for the sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements. Spatial patterns of childhood stunting were determined using global and local Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, and the corresponding maps were produced. Results: The z-scores of the three anthropometric measurements were normally distributed, but the z-scores of height-for-age were generally lower than those of weight-for-age and weight-for-height, prompting us to focus on height-for-age for the spatial analysis. The estimated incidence of stunting among 601 children aged 1–36 months was 27.1 %. The sample points were interpolated to the administrative level of the sector. The global Moran's I was positive and significant (Moran's I = 0.403, p < 0.001, z-score = 7.813), indicating clustering of childhood stunting across different sectors of Northern Province. The local Moran's I and hotspot analysis based on the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic showed statistically significant hotspots, which were strongest within Musanze district, followed by Gakenke and Gicumbi districts. Conclusion: Childhood stunting in Northern Province showed statistically significant hotspots in Musanze, Gakenke, and Gicumbi districts. Factors associated with such clusters and hotspots should be assessed to identify possible geographically targeted interventions.

Department/s

  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
  • LU Profile Area: Nature-based future solutions
  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)
  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • Centre for Geographical Information Systems (GIS Centre)

Publishing year

2024-01-30

Language

English

Publication/Series

Heliyon

Volume

10

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
  • Earth and Related Environmental Sciences

Keywords

  • Child
  • LMICs
  • Rwanda
  • Spatial
  • Stunting
  • Sub-saharan africa
  • Undernutrition
  • spatial analysis

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2405-8440