Risk Factors of Poor Anthropometric Status in Children Under Five Years of Age Living In Rural Districts of the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal Provinces; South Africa

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Factors associated with children's anthropometric status were determined. Design: Secondary analysis was done using data from a cross-sectional survey including children under five years of age (n = 2 485) and their mothers in rural districts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces; South Africa. Methods: Data generated by questionnaire and anthropometric indices were used to construct a logistic regression model; taking into account hierarchical relationships of risk factors to determine the odds of a child being stunted; underweight or overweight. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05. Results: Factors associated with stunting were child of male gender (odds ratio (OR)