Pattern of Stunting Among Under-Five Children in Selected Urban and Rural Communities in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated levels and patterns of stunting among 366 under-five children in 3 selected urban communities (high, medium, and low density) and one rural community in Oyo State. Stunting was defined as height height-for-age z-scores less than -2 standard deviations from the median of the reference population using World Health Organization growth standards. Mean height of children varied significantly in the different communities when compared between the same age-groups. This variation began to manifest after the age of 24 months and remained so for the older age-groups. Prevalence of stunting was 50%, 17.3%, and 23.9%, respectively, for the high-, medium-, and low-density urban communities and 33% for the rural community. Overall, the stunting level increased steadily from birth up to the 24- to 35-month age-group where it peaked. Thereafter the rates, though still high, tapered off as the children grew older but there were significant differences among the communities with regard to this age-specific pattern of stunting. Simple dichotomous urban-rural assessment of children's nutritional status may mask a lot of important details; therefore, comparisons of nutritional status of urban and rural children should always consider the existence of such hidden inequalities within the areas. © 2013 The Author(s).