Prevalence and determinants of underweight and overweight/obesity among Ghanaian children: a cross-sectional study using DHS data in Ghana

Background There is a global rise in the burden of childhood obesity, increasing the risk of early onset adult obesity. Most developing countries face the double burden of malnutrition; overnutrition as overweight/obesity and undernutrition. Objectives To determine the current burden and determinants of childhood thinness, overweight and obesity using national survey data. Design Data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2022 were used. Setting Data from the seventh Demographic Health Survey conducted in Ghana were used. Participants The participants included 4417 children ≤59 months. Method The seventh Ghana Demographic Health Survey in 2022 employed a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design, selecting 618 clusters to create a nationally representative sample. Weight and height were measured using the SECA 874U scale and Shorrboard, respectively. Children’s heights were measured recumbent (<24 months) or standing (>24 months). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between thinness and obesity, as well as the independent factors. Outcome variable The outcome variable was obesity, determined by a WHZ of >+2SD. Results The weighted prevalence of overweight/obesity and thinness in children under 5 years is 9.9% and 5.2%, respectively. Children who were overweight or obese had a mean age of 23.11 months, those who were thin or severely thin had a lower mean age of 21.02 months, and those with normal nutritional status were relatively older, with a mean age of 28.41 months. The Upper West, Northeast and Northern regions had the lowest densities of obesity. In the multivariate logistic regression model, children residing in Ashanti, Oti, Northern, North East and Upper East regions had significantly reduced odds of being obese compared with those in the Ahafo region. The average haemoglobin for those overweight/obese was 10.8g/dL, and 10.7g/dL for those who were normal and marginally reduced, 10.5g/dL for those who were thin. Conclusion Regional disparities, maternal nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions and unsafe water sources were significant determinants of child nutrition outcomes. These findings call for targeted, multipronged interventions that integrate maternal-child nutrition, safe water, sanitation and regional context.