Benta Abuya|James Ciera|Elizabeth Kimani-Murage
Effect of mother’s education on child’s nutritional status in the slums of Nairobi
African Population and Health Research Center|African Population and Health Research Center|African Population and Health Research Center
malnutrition continues critical public health problem subsaharan africa example east africa 48 children underfive stunted 36 underweight poor health poor nutrition characteristic children living urban areas children rural areas protective mechanism offered urban advantage past health benefits historically accrued residents cities compared residents rural settings eroded due increasing proportion urban residents living slum settings study sought determine effect mothers education child nutritional status children living slum settingsdata maternal child health project nested within nairobi urban health demographic surveillance system nuhdss study involves 5156 children aged 042 months data nutritional status used collected october 2009 january 2010 used binomial multiple logistic regression estimate effect education univariable multivariable models respectivelyresults show close 40 children study stunted maternal education strong predictor child stunting minimal attenuation association factors maternal household community level factors including child level child birth weight gender maternal level marital status parity pregnancy intentions health seeking behaviour household level social economic status also independently significantly associated stuntingoverall mothers education persists strong predictor childs nutritional status urban slum settings even controlling factors given stunting strong predictor human capital emphasis girlchild education may contribute breaking poverty cycle urban poor settings