Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002 - Measure DHS

Table 11.12 indicates that stunting is found in children as young as 6 months of age (9 percent).Stunting rates increase with the age of the child. This is evidenced by the doubling of stunting levels from29 percent at 6-9 months to 56 percent at age 12–23 months. There are no marked differences betweenmales (48 percent) and females (46 percent) in the levels of stunting among children under five years.Table 11.12 further shows that the longer the birth interval, the lower the stunting levels. Birth weight isan important determinant of the child’s nutrition at birth and in the future. According to Table 11.12, alarger percentage of children who were reported to have been very small at birth were stunted (60percent), compared with children who were born average or larger in size (45 percent). Table 11.12indicates that wasting is more common in the age group 10-23 months and decreases as the childincreases in age. Weight-for-age is an index of chronic or acute malnutrition. It does not distinguishbetween a child who is underweight because of stunting or wasting. Underweight is very minimal forchildren less than 6 months of age but becomes more pronounced at age 6 months and above (normalcomplementary feeding period). This may be because most children are still primarily breastfeeding until6 months of age.Table 11.12 indicates that rural children are more likely to be stunted and underweight than urbanchildren, while the proportion of wasted children is the same in both rural and urban areas (5 percent).Regional variation in nutritional status of children is substantial. Eastern, Luapula, and Northern provinceshave stunting and underweight levels that are above the national average (Figure 11.2). Lusakaprovince has the lowest level of stunting and underweight (36 percent and 22 percent, respectively). Sizeat birth is related to wasting in children; a larger percentage of children reported by mothers as very smallare wasted (9 percent), compared with those reported as average or larger (5 percent). Wasting is particularlyhigh in Northern and Copperbelt provinces.Figure 11.2 Nutritional Status of Children under Five Yearsby ProvincePercent5855462740294932 333622344527494324 24472847 74 583 4 35Central Copperbelt Eastern Luapula Lusaka Northern North- Southern WesternWesternZambiaStunting(height-for-age)ProvinceWasting(weight-for-height)Underweight(weight-for-age)ZDHS 2001-2002The percentage of children who are malnourished declines with increasing level of mother’seducation. More than half (54 percent) of children whose mothers have no education are stunted,compared with only 20 percent of children whose mothers have more than secondary education. Thepattern is the same with levels of wasting and underweight. Mother’s age has no marked influence on thenutritional status of the child.182 │ Nutrition among Children and Women