Naila Baig?Ansari|Mohammad Hossain Rahbar|Zulfiqar A Bhutta|S H Badruddin
Child's Gender and Household Food Insecurity are Associated with Stunting among Young Pakistani Children Residing in Urban Squatter Settlements
University of California, Davis
nutritional status children good indicator overall wellbeing society reflects food security well existing healthcare environmental conditions pakistan estimated nearly 40 50 children age five stunted due greater economic opportunities available urban population compared rural believed economic resources existed poor urban pakistani households households lacked skills knowledge translate resources good care feeding practicesthis study aimed 1 assess prevalent care feeding practices among children aged 6 18 months residing squatter settlements karachi 2 identify care feeding practices well underlying factors associated stuntinga crosssectional survey conducted eight settlements october december 2000 total 433 mothers eligible children interviewed use structured questionnaires final analysis using multiple logistic regression conducted 399 motherchild pairsfemale children nearly three times likely stunted male children households food insecure hunger also three times likely households stunted child lack maternal formal schooling adjusted prevalence odds ratio 29 95 confidence interval 14 38 large household size adjusted prevalence odds ratio 17 95 confidence interval 10 38 also associated stunting even though certain care feeding practices significant univariate level significant final multivariate analysis excluded final modelin households food insecurity exists knowledge care practices may sufficient interventions food subsidies must precede accompany educational efforts followup required explore effect gender differences child care