MODELLING THE LINKAGE BETWEEN DIETARY PATTERNS AND UNDERNUTRITION OUTCOMES IN UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN MALAWI

Abstract

Undernutrition remains a major public health concern resulting from nutritional deficiences. In Malawi 37% of underfive children are stunted, 3% are wasted and12% are underweight. This study focused on modelling the linkage between dietary patterns and undernutrition outcomes in underfive children in Malawi. The study used data from 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey which included a 24 hour recall of food consumed by underfive children and anthropometric measurements. Principal component regression (PCR) and reduced rank regression (RRR) were used to derive dietary patterns and binary logistic regression was used to model the linkage. Results showed that carbohydrates-legumes fruits-vegetables-animal protein-fats-sugar dietary pattern derived from PCR was associated with stunting at p<0.05 (medium DDL OR=1.483, p < 0.05, cI: 1.218-1.806 and high DDL (OR=1.298, p < 0.05, CI: 1.063-1.586). Furthermore, dietary patterns derived from RRR namely carbohydrates-fruits-vegetables-fish pattern , Legumes-animal protein-sugar pattern and solid-foods-other-liquid pattern were associated with stunting, wasting and underweight with atleast one DDL having p < 0.05. Also, demographic factors including education level, region, residence and wealth index were associated with undernutrition at p < 0.05. The current study support consideration of dietary patterns and demographic factors in combating undernutrition. Therefore, stakeholders should implement nutrition-sensitive interventions promoting balanced diet with consideration of demographic factors for the health well being of underfive children and Malawi’s economic progress.