Stunting among Under Five Years Old Children in Rwanda: Influences of Family Planning Status and Household Size and Composition.

BACKGROUND

Stunting is one of the main challenges resulting in high child mortality and morbidity thought out the world, especially in many developing countries, including Rwanda. The overall prevalence rate of stunting is estimated at around 38% of under five years old children in Rwanda.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influences of household size and composition and family planning status on stunting among children under five in Rwanda.

METHODS

The current study is a nationally representative cross-sectional study that used the secondary data analysis of Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2014-2015. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between family planning and household size and composition.

RESULTS

The sum-total of children under five in the household (log odds=0.373(<.05), CI=0.0577, 0.689), maternal age at childbirth (log odds=-0.682(<.05), CI=-1.222, -0.141), fertility preference (log odds =-0.296(<.05), CI=-0.549, -0.0427), and unmet need for family planning (log odds = 0.297(<.05), CI= 0.0193, 0.574) were statistically significant associated with stunting among studied children.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest a significant association between stunting and family planning and household size and composition.