Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization

This paper explores the prevalence of the coexistence of a stunted child and an overweight mother in the same household (SCOWT), a somewhat paradoxical phenomenon when found in the developing world. It tests whether this phenomenon is associated with a country's level of economic development and urb...

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Autores principales: Garrett, James L., Ruel, Marie T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2005
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172316
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author Garrett, James L.
Ruel, Marie T.
author_browse Garrett, James L.
Ruel, Marie T.
author_facet Garrett, James L.
Ruel, Marie T.
author_sort Garrett, James L.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper explores the prevalence of the coexistence of a stunted child and an overweight mother in the same household (SCOWT), a somewhat paradoxical phenomenon when found in the developing world. It tests whether this phenomenon is associated with a country's level of economic development and urbanization and, by implication, the nutrition transition. It then highlights policy directions for public nutrition. Data from 42 Demographic and Health Surveys in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were used. Stunting was defined as height-for-age < −2 SD of the reference population, and maternal overweight as a body-mass index > 25 kg/m2. World Bank and United Nations figures were used for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (an indicator of economic development) and for level of urbanization. Descriptive statistics were derived, and regression analysis was used to model the association between economic development, urbanization, and the prevalence of pairs of stunted children and overweight mothers. The prevalence of this phenomenon is generally below 10%, except in four countries, three of them in Latin America. The phenomenon is generally more prevalent in Latin America than in Africa, though not necessarily more prevalent in urban than in rural areas. The analysis finds that the phenomenon is associated with economic development, but not urbanization, and that it does differ between urban and rural areas and regions. The association with GDP per capita supports the hypothesis that SCOWT increases with economic development, up to a point. SCOWT appears to be most prevalent, as expected, in those countries in the midst of the nutrition transition. Recognizing this phenomenon is important for delineating strategies that respond to the differential needs of individuals within the household and do not just affect the household as a whole. This may become especially important with future economic development and, potentially, urbanization.
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spelling CGSpace1723162025-01-29T12:59:46Z Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization Garrett, James L. Ruel, Marie T. stunting overweight economic situation urbanization livelihoods rural urban relations gender health nutrition mothers This paper explores the prevalence of the coexistence of a stunted child and an overweight mother in the same household (SCOWT), a somewhat paradoxical phenomenon when found in the developing world. It tests whether this phenomenon is associated with a country's level of economic development and urbanization and, by implication, the nutrition transition. It then highlights policy directions for public nutrition. Data from 42 Demographic and Health Surveys in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were used. Stunting was defined as height-for-age < −2 SD of the reference population, and maternal overweight as a body-mass index > 25 kg/m2. World Bank and United Nations figures were used for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (an indicator of economic development) and for level of urbanization. Descriptive statistics were derived, and regression analysis was used to model the association between economic development, urbanization, and the prevalence of pairs of stunted children and overweight mothers. The prevalence of this phenomenon is generally below 10%, except in four countries, three of them in Latin America. The phenomenon is generally more prevalent in Latin America than in Africa, though not necessarily more prevalent in urban than in rural areas. The analysis finds that the phenomenon is associated with economic development, but not urbanization, and that it does differ between urban and rural areas and regions. The association with GDP per capita supports the hypothesis that SCOWT increases with economic development, up to a point. SCOWT appears to be most prevalent, as expected, in those countries in the midst of the nutrition transition. Recognizing this phenomenon is important for delineating strategies that respond to the differential needs of individuals within the household and do not just affect the household as a whole. This may become especially important with future economic development and, potentially, urbanization. 2005-01 2025-01-29T12:59:46Z 2025-01-29T12:59:46Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172316 en Limited Access SAGE Publications Garrett, James L.; Ruel, Marie T. 2005. Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 26(2): 209-221. https://doi.org/10.1177/156482650502600205
spellingShingle stunting
overweight
economic situation
urbanization
livelihoods
rural urban relations
gender
health
nutrition
mothers
Garrett, James L.
Ruel, Marie T.
Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
title Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
title_full Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
title_fullStr Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
title_full_unstemmed Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
title_short Stunted child -- overweight mother pairs: prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
title_sort stunted child overweight mother pairs prevalence and association with economic development and urbanization
topic stunting
overweight
economic situation
urbanization
livelihoods
rural urban relations
gender
health
nutrition
mothers
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172316
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