Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Diarrhoeal disease is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe. This paper examines the relationship between diarrhoea and malnutrition to determine whether there is a threshold effect in operation.
DESIGN
Multivariate analysis of a retrospective survey.
SETTING/SUBJECTS
Using a nationally representative sample, the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, 1994, collected diarrhoeal, anthropometric and socio-economic data for 2,073 children aged 0 to 35 months.
RESULTS
Age of the child, residence, and severe stunting and wasting were found to be significant predictors of childhood diarrhoea. However, moderate stunting and wasting failed to show any relationship.
CONCLUSIONS
Moderate malnutrition is the main nutritional complaint in Zimbabwe. Thus malnutrition may have a relatively small role in determining the prevalence of childhood diarrhoea. Instead, factors related to exposure--namely sanitation, water supply, population density and hygiene--may be more important. Consequently supplementary feeding programmes should work in tandem with initiatives to reduce exposure if the morbidity burden of children is to be reduced.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence of malnutrition having a threshold effect on the risk of childhood diarrhoea in Zimbabwe.
A1 - Root,G P,
PY - 1997/7/1/pubmed
PY - 1998/1/31/medline
PY - 1997/7/1/entrez
KW - Africa
KW - Africa South Of The Sahara
KW - Age Factors
KW - Biology
KW - Correlation Studies
KW - Demographic Factors
KW - Developing Countries
KW - Diarrhea
KW - Diarrhea, Infantile--prevention and control
KW - Diseases
KW - Eastern Africa
KW - English Speaking Africa
KW - Infant
KW - Malnutrition
KW - Nutrition Disorders
KW - Population
KW - Population Characteristics
KW - Research Methodology
KW - Research Report
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Sampling Studies
KW - Statistical Studies
KW - Studies
KW - Surveys
KW - Youth
KW - Zimbabwe
SP - 185
EP - 8
JF - The Central African journal of medicine
JO - Cent Afr J Med
VL - 43
IS - 7
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Diarrhoeal disease is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe. This paper examines the relationship between diarrhoea and malnutrition to determine whether there is a threshold effect in operation. DESIGN: Multivariate analysis of a retrospective survey. SETTING/SUBJECTS: Using a nationally representative sample, the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, 1994, collected diarrhoeal, anthropometric and socio-economic data for 2,073 children aged 0 to 35 months. RESULTS: Age of the child, residence, and severe stunting and wasting were found to be significant predictors of childhood diarrhoea. However, moderate stunting and wasting failed to show any relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate malnutrition is the main nutritional complaint in Zimbabwe. Thus malnutrition may have a relatively small role in determining the prevalence of childhood diarrhoea. Instead, factors related to exposure--namely sanitation, water supply, population density and hygiene--may be more important. Consequently supplementary feeding programmes should work in tandem with initiatives to reduce exposure if the morbidity burden of children is to be reduced.
SN - 0008-9176
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/9431750/Evidence_of_malnutrition_having_a_threshold_effect_on_the_risk_of_childhood_diarrhoea_in_Zimbabwe_
L2 - https://medlineplus.gov/childnutrition.html
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
