MEASURING THE RISK FACTORS OF CHILD MALNUTRITION IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF MALAWI: A QUANTILE REGRESSION APPROACH

Abstract

This paper measures the risk factors of child malnutrition in urban and rural Malawi by analyzing data on childhood malnutrition collected in the 2010/2011 Malawi Third Integrated Household Survey (IHS 3). The analysis is based on a semi parametric extension of quantile regression models where nonlinear effects are included in the model, leading to additive quantile regression. Quantile regression is used to achieve a more complete picture of an effect of child malnutrition. The results of the study indicates that in Malawi; child age, child feeding practices, child illness, mother’s age, place of residence, marital status of the mother, mother/father education, per capita income, household size, household wealth, sanitation and hygiene are some of the major determinants of infant malnutrition. Based on the findings of this study, reducing illiteracy level of mother, household expenditures in non-food stuffs, access to healthcare facilities significantly reduced the probability of having a child being undernourished. Taken together, improved education, dietary diversity, hygiene, sanitation and quality of health care facilities along with sufficient household incomes and livelihoods remain keys to reducing undernutrition.