Binary Logistic Regression Model for Assessing Factors Associated with Nutritional Status of Children Under Five Years among Chepang Community in Siddi, Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Chepang Community in Nepal has often been characterized as the poorest among Nepal’s poor, and has faced food insecurity at a household level each year. Health status of their children is poor compared to other community children and more so for the age group under the age of five years.

Objective: To find the proportion of stunting, wasting and underweight, and to assess the most promising factors associated with the nutritional status of children under five years of Chepang community in Siddi, Chitwan, Nepal.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used with 170 samples. To find the association of different factors with the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age (stunting, wasting and underweight, each) binary multiple logistic regression model was used and the goodness of fit of the model was assessed through Hosmer and Lemeshow test.

Results: The overall proportion of children under five years of the Chepang community is 60.6%, 30.6% and 44.7% for underweight, stunting and wasting respectively. Among many factors, the mother’s illiteracy (OR: 5.30, 95 % CI: 1.37 to 21.57), external monthly family income (≤ NRs. 2000) (OR: 9.65, 95 % CI: 3.23 to 30.78) and food availability for six months from own land (OR: 4.17, 95 % CI: 1.90 to 17.98) have a significant association with underweight. Similarly, for stunting, female child (OR: 2.19, 95 % CI: 1.02 to 4.70), number of children (more than one) below 14 years at home (OR: 4.15, 95 % CI : 1.77 to 11.04) and external family income (≤ NRs. 2000) (OR: 4.42, 95% CI: 1.01 to 17.06) are significantly associated, and for wasting, a number of children (more than one) below 14 years at home (OR: 4.64, 95 % of CI: 1.71 to 12.60) and external family income (≤ NRs. 2000) (OR: 5.17, 95 % CI: 2.27 to 11.79) are significantly associated.

Conclusion: Substantial numbers of children from Chepang community are having the problem of underweight, stunting and wasting. Different demographic and socio-economic variables have been found associated for odds of having low level of nutritional status of children.