Open AccessAssessment of the WHO Stunting Framework using Ethiopia as a case study
Author(s) -
Wirth James P.,
Rohner Fabian,
Petry Nicolai,
Onyango Adelheid W.,
Matji Joan,
Bailes Adam,
Onis Mercedes,
Woodruff Bradley A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.12310
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , public health , context (archaeology) , linear growth , conceptual framework , developing country , data collection , economic growth , geography , philosophy , statistics , nursing , mathematics , archaeology , epistemology , economics
Abstract Poor linear growth in children <5 years old, or stunting, is a serious public health problem particularly in Sub‐Saharan Africa. In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a conceptual framework on the Context, Causes and Consequences of Childhood Stunting (the ‘WHO framework’) that identifies specific and general factors associated with stunting. The framework is based upon a global review of data, and we have applied it to a country‐level analysis where health and nutrition policies are made and public health and nutrition data are collected. We reviewed the literature related to sub‐optimal linear growth, stunting and birth outcomes in Ethiopia as a case study. We found consistent associations between poor linear growth and indicators of birth size, recent illness (e.g. diarrhoea and fever), maternal height and education. Other factors listed as causes in the framework such as inflammation, exposure to mycotoxins and inadequate feeding during and after illness have not been examined in Ethiopia, and the existing literature suggests that these are clear data gaps. Some factors associated with poor linear growth in Ethiopia are missing in the framework, such as household characteristics (e.g. exposure to indoor smoke). Examination of the factors included in the WHO framework in a country setting helps identifying data gaps helping to target further data collection and research efforts. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd