Mickey Chopra
Risk factors for undernutrition of young children in a rural area of South Africa
University of the Western Cape
identify factors associated childhood undernutritioncrosssectional surveyhlabisa health district kwazulunatal south africaeight hundred sixtyeight children aged 359 monthsquestionnaire survey anthropometric survey 516 random households children health district multivariate analysis took account hierarchical relationships proposed risk factors conceptual model built qualitative studies reference international research areathe mean zscores weightforage heightforage 052 95 confidence interval ci 044 060 125 95 ci 115 135 respectively children 263 95 ci 233293 stunted 120 95 ci 9842 underweightforage uwfa 13 wasted migrant father mothers education literate mother whether house made traditional materials presence toilet whether last child breastfed duration breastfeeding birth weight found significantly related uwfa latter odds ratio eightwhile individual health feeding behaviours need addressed study also uncovered maternal socioeconomic factors present array constraints social environment shaping infant feeding caring practices employed women full potential nutrition promotion activities realised need address deeper constraints