1.Risk factors of stunting during the complementary feeding period 6-23 months in the Philippines
Mildred O. Guirindola ; Eva A. Goyena ; Ma. Lynell V. Maniego
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2021;27(No.1):123-140
Introduction: Stunting persists as a public health problem in the Philippines,
affecting 30% of under-five children. This study aimed to identify the drivers of
stunting in young Filipino children aged 6-23 months. Methods: Data were
extracted from the cross-sectional Updating Survey conducted in 2015 by the Food
and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI-DOST). Potential predictors of stunting, which were categorised into childrelated characteristics, feeding practices, maternal socio-demographic status and
health practices, and household economic and food security status, were examined
using descriptive and regression analyses. Results: Of the 2,275 children aged 6-23
months, 18.7% were stunted and 8.3% were severely stunted. The risk of stunting
increased significantly among older children aged 12-23 months (relative risk ratio,
RRR 3.04), males within 6-23 months of age (RRR 1.99), and low-birth-weight
infants (RRR 2.19). Children born from teenage mothers (RRR 1.90), mothers with
short stature (RRR 2.33), and mothers with low education (RRR 1.59) posed higher
risks of becoming stunted relative to their counterparts. Mothers with >4 children
(RRR 2.44), coming from the poorest households (RRR 4.27), having untimely
introduction of complementary foods (RRR 4.44), and not meeting the minimum
meal frequency (RRR 2.30) increased the risks of severe stunting. Conclusion: The
study illustrated the multi-factorial nature of stunting among Filipino children aged
6-23 months old. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach is needed to address the
underlying factors of stunting among young Filipino children to help achieve the
country’s nutrition targets by 2025.
2.Association of household food security and dietary diversity of mother-child pairs in the Philippines
Mildred O. Guirindola ; Ma. Lynell V. Maniego ; Cristina G. Malabad
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2022;28(No.1):15-30
Introduction: The majority of Filipino households experience food insecurity.
Mothers and children are among the population groups suffering from poor diet
quality. This study aimed to determine the extent of the association of household
food security (HFS) to mothers’ and children’s dietary diversity score (DDS), and to
identify the significant factors associated with meeting the DDS of these vulnerable
groups. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional, population-based study utilising
secondary data from the 2015 Updating Survey. From a total of 6,692 mother-child
pairs, the association between HFS and meeting the DDS of mothers and children,
as well as the potential predictors for meeting the DDS were tested using descriptive
and logistic regression analyses. Results: The findings showed that HFS was
significantly associated with meeting the DDS of mothers and children aged 6-36
months (p<0.001). The proportion of meeting the DDS among mothers and children
was significantly higher in food-secure than in food-insecure households (20.7%
vs. 14.4%). Furthermore, meeting the DDS decreased with increasing levels of food
insecurity. Household food security status, education background, employment,
child’s age, and wealth status were significantly associated with meeting the DDS.
Conclusion: This study showed the extent of how food security was associated
with meeting the DDS of mothers, children, and mother-child pairs, and the factors
associated with meeting the DDS. Results can be used to strengthen the formulation
of appropriate, evidence-based policies to address household food insecurity and
low DDS among mothers and young children.