HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN (6-59 MONTHS OLD) IN TAMALE SOUTH IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Food insecurity is a detrimental household shock that forces a subpar redistribution of household resources affecting the frequency of dietary intake, adequacy, and monotony of diet as well psychosocial apprehension of the situation. Children 6 – 59 months are among the worst affected in such situations given their non-resilience relative to other members of the household. The objective of the study was to assess the contributions of sociodemographic characteristics and the level of household food insecurity to nutritional status of children under 5 years in Tamale south. The study adopted an analytical cross-sectional design through which 240 mother-child pairs were assessed. These participants were selected through a 3-multi-stage approach. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire containing sections on demographic characteristics, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and child anthropometry. The results showed that aregivers were mostly mothers who were predominantly married and native Dagomba with little formal education and earn less than GHC200.00. The prevalence of moderate and severe wasting was 7.1% and 0.4%, respectively. Moderate and severe stunting was 27.5% and 1.7%, respectively, while 10.4% were moderately underweight and 0.4% were severely underweight. Household food insecurity (total HFIAS) was significantly associated with higher odds of acute malnutrition in both unadjusted [OR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.60, p= .018] and adjusted binary logistics regression results [OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.07-1.68] but no significant influence on chronic malnutrition. Also, household size (increased) and age of the child (6 – 23 months vs 24-59 months) had higher odds of susceptibility for chronic malnutrition. In conclusion, food insecurity predicts acute child malnutrition and larger households predispose children to perpetual food shortages that spell long-term malnutrition that renders 6 – 23 months old children most vulnerable. Social protection and economic empowerment interventions should be integrated with health-based family planning promotion for holistic household improvement.