Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 20, No. 1, 2022
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/2202.02.0120
Spatial Distribution and Predictors of Co-occurrence of Anemia and Stunting among Under-five Children in Nigeria
Yingigba C. Akinyemi 1
1Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Anemia and stunting are serious public health problems among children in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular. This paper examined the prevalence of co-occurrence of anemia and stunting (CAS) in rural and urban areas, identified predictors of CAS in rural and urban areas, analyzed the spatial pattern of CAS, identified the variables associated with the spatial variation of CAS and map the spatial distribution of CAS. Data from 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey, spatial statistical techniques, multivariable logistic regression and geographically weighted Poisson regression were employed. There was no significant differences between the observed and expected frequency of CAS. Prevalence of CAS varied spatially in rural/urban areas, states and zones. Children that were still breastfeeding, male, with low maternal educational level, living in North West zone and poor households have high risk of being anemic and stunted concurrently. Overall, children in poor households and those that experienced diarrhea were more likely to have co-occurrence of anemia and stunting in rural and urban areas. Nationally, prevalence of CAS exhibited a clustered pattern. Hotspots clustered in the North West zone while coldspots were mostly in the south. There was significant spatial variations in the relationships between CAS and the explanatory variables across the states. Health agencies and policymakers need to implement and strengthen nutrition-specific interventions particularly in high-risk areas.
Keywords: Aanemia, stunting growth, co-occurrence of anemia, spatial analysis, Nigeria