How maternal demographic and socio-economic characteristics affect early childhood nutrition in Uganda

Viola Nampeera, Traditional and Modern Health Practitioners Together Against AIDS and Other Diseases (THETA)
Flavia Nakayima Miiro, Makerere University
Vivienne Najjemba
Pauline Akol, Makerere University

Adequate nutrition is a critical factor in early childhood growth, health and development. It is important to note that demographic and socio-economic characteristics especially of the mother have an important role to play in early childhood nutrition. Using the 2006 UDHS as the main data-set, the summary of results showed that, 30% of children under 5years are stunted and 15% are severely stunted, 6% of children under 5 years were wasted and 16% were underweight. Male (41%) children were more likely to be stunted than female children (36%).Stunting was highest (41%) if the birth interval was less than 24 months. More rural children are stunted (40%) than urban children (26%). With increasing level of mother’s education the proportion of children stunted goes down. Stunting also decreases with increasing wealth quintile, although the pattern is not uniform Regional. To improve this pattern, government should train its population in child care and development.