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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Socio-economic predictors of undernutrition and anaemia in adolescent mothers in West and Central Africa
Journal of Global Health, Volume 11, Year 2021
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Description
Background Adolescence is a formative period when an individual acquires physical, cognitive, emotional, and social resources that are the foundation for later life, health, and well-being [1]. However, in West and Central African region, this trajectory is curtailed by early childbearing associated with an increased risk of undernutrition and anemia. Evidence on socio-economic determinants of anemia and undernutrition in adolescent mothers is limited. This paper aims to shed some light on this issue and, more specifically, assess the socio-economic determinants of anemia among childbearing adolescents in the region. Methods For this observational study, we pooled data from all Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in countries in West and Central Africa region between 1986 and 2017. Outcomes were undernutrition and anemia in adolescent mothers. Predictors were education, wealth, place of residence (rural/ urban), and religion. Descriptive statistics were calculated using survey weights for individual surveys and in the pooled sample each country was additionally weighted with its population share. We estimated multiple regression models with and without primary sampling unit fixed effects for both outcomes. All regressions were linear probability models. Results Having no formal education was the strongest predictor for both anemia and undernutrition. Belonging to the richest asset quintile was also associated with lower anemia and undernutrition prevalence in some specifications. While urban location of the mother was positively associated with anemia, there was no association with undernutrition. Conclusions Overall, having any formal education emerged as a sole strong predictor of reduced adolescent maternal undernutrition and anemia. Promotion of female education can potentially serve as a high-impact intervention to improve adolescent girls’ health in the region. However, we cannot make conclusions about its causal impact based on this study alone. © 2021 The Author(s) and UNICEF
Authors & Co-Authors
Sagalova, Vera
Germany, Heidelberg
Universität Heidelberg
Vollmer, Sebastian
Germany, Gottingen
Georg-august-universität Göttingen
Ntambi, John
United States, New York
Unicef
Sodjinou, Roger S.
United States, New York
Unicef
Simen-Kapeu, Aline
United States, New York
Unicef
Bärnighausen, Till Winfried
Germany, Heidelberg
Universität Heidelberg
Zagré, Noël Marie
United States, New York
Unicef
Nanama, Siméon
United States, New York
Unicef
Statistics
Citations: 1
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.7189/jogh.11.13007
ISSN:
20472978
Research Areas
Food Security
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Exploratory Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Participants Gender
Female