Scientific publications
Aristide Guillaume Silapeux Kamda
Gillian N. Asoba
Blanche V. Eyabi
Olivia A. Anagim
Bolda E. Maralossou
Élie Fokou
Dieudonne Nebane
World Nutrition
Background The prevalence of malnutrition among children in Cameroon remains high, particularly among those residing in rural areas. The present examines young children in an urban area, Kumba, in the South-West Region of Cameroon. Objective The aim of this study was to assess in a comparative manner the factors associated with malnutrition among public and private nursery school children in Kumba. Methods A cross-sectional quantitative survey design was conducted among 312 children aged 3-5 years from 6 public and private nursery schools and their caregivers. Children were selected via a multistage random sampling technique, and their weight and height were measured using the WHO Anthro software to determine levels of underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight, and the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 to accommodate a multistage cluster design, employing Pearson’s Chi-square tests for categorical variables, Student’s t-tests for continuous variables, and forced-entry binary logistic regression to identify significant socio-economic, demographic, and school-type determinants of malnutrition at p < 0.05. Results The overall prevalence of wasting, stunting and overweight among the children was 6.7%, 14.1% and 13.7%, respectively, with a CIAF of 19.5%. Wasting and stunting were more prevalent in public schools. Overweight prevalence was higher in private schools. Children attending public schools were 6.99 times more likely to be stunted than those attending private schools [AOR, 6.99; 95% CI, 2.24-21.86]. Home-packed lunch boxes lowered odds of wasting [AOR, 0.044; 95% CI, 0.011-0.17] and stunting [AOR, 0.085; 95% CI, 0.02-0.24]. Conclusion Children from socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds, whose families could afford private education and packing school lunch boxes, had lower risks for stunting and wasting. Overweight was less prevalent among public school children. Parents across both public and private nursery schools must be educated on essential child nutrition practices to curb malnutrition.
