High maternal body mass index is associated with an early-onset of overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children in Malawi. A multilevel analysis of the 2015-16 Malawi demographic and health survey

Ntenda, P. A. M., Mhone, T. G. and Nkoka, O. (2019) High maternal body mass index is associated with an early-onset of overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children in Malawi. A multilevel analysis of the 2015-16 Malawi demographic and health survey. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 65(2), pp. 147-159. (doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmy028) (PMID:29800293)

[img] Text
228017.pdf - Accepted Version

410kB

Abstract

Background: Overweight/obesity in young children is one of the most serious public health issues globally. We examined whether individual- and community-level maternal nutritional status is associated with an early onset of overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children in Malawi. Design: Data were obtained from the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). The maternal nutritional status as body mass index and childhood overweight/obesity status was assessed by using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. To examine whether the maternal nutritional status is associated with overweight/obesity in pre-school-aged children, two-level multilevel logistic regression models were constructed on 4023 children of age less than five years dwelling in 850 different communities. Results: The multilevel regression analysis showed that children born to overweight/obese mothers had increased odds of being overweight/obese [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13–8.54]. At the community level, children born to mothers from the middle (aOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.02–2.78) and high (aOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.00–2.90) percentage of overweight/obese women had increased odds of being overweight/obese. In addition, there were significant variations in the odds of childhood overweight/obesity in the communities. Conclusions: Strategies aimed at reducing childhood overweight/obesity in Malawi should address not only women and their children but also their communities. Appropriate choices of nutrition, diet and physical activity patterns should be emphasized upon in overweight/obese women of childbearing age throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Nkoka, Dr Owen
Authors: Ntenda, P. A. M., Mhone, T. G., and Nkoka, O.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
Journal Name:Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
Publisher:Oxford University Press (OUP)
ISSN:0142-6338
ISSN (Online):1465-3664
Published Online:25 May 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 Oxford University Press
First Published:First published Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 65(2):147-159
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record