Multilevel analysis of risk factors associated with severe underweight among children under 5 years: evidence from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

Background: Undernutrition among children < 5 yr. is a global public health problem, especially in developing countries like Ghana. Undernutrition increases the risk of child morbidity and mortality. There is paucity of data on household-level effects on severe underweight and associated factors. Objective: The study investigated the risk factors associated with severe underweight among children < 5 yr. in Ghana and examined unobserved differences across households based on the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health surveys (GDHS) data. Methods: Data from a population-based cross-sectional study was obtained from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Data on 2720 children nested within 1972 households was extracted for analysis. Our regression analysis used data on 2716 children wi th complete data on the outcome and risk factors. Children with weight-for-age Z-score below-3 standard deviations were classified as severely underweight based on the 2006 WHO child growth standards. We applied random intercept multilevel logistic regression to examine whether severe underweight status in children differ across households while simultaneously identifying potential risk factors. Results: A total of 2720 children had valid weight-for-age z-score and 53 (1.95%) of them were identified as severely underweight. In the univariate model, child level variables such as multiple birth [odds ratio (OR), 4.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.85-8.76] and child born average (OR, 2.17; 95% CI: 1.09-4.32) or small (OR, 4.08; 95%C I: 2.01-8.28) in size at birth are associated with increased odds of severe underweight. Maternal/household level variables such as increase in number of children below 5 yr. (OR, 1.61; 95%CI: 1.28-2.04), poorest households (OR, 4.85; 95% CI: 1.14-20.59) and increase in number of births in last 5 yr. (OR, 1.80, 95% CI: 1.24-2.60) were associated with increased odds of severe underweight. Increase in maternal years of education (OR, 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83-0.95) was associated with reduced odds of severe underweight. In the multilevel logistic model, only type of birth (OR, 1.61; 95% CI: 1.28-2.04), size of child (average: OR, 2.12; 95% CI: 1.04-4.33; small: OR, 3.87; 95% CI: 1.80-8.33) at birth, and maternal education (OR, 0.92; 95% CI: 0.84-1.00) were independently associated with severe underweight. There were no significant residual household-level variations in severe underweight status. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that improving maternal education, socioeconomic conditions of families, and family planning are critical in addressing severe underweight.