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difference of 16 percentage points. Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria also had an
underweight prevalence that was at least 10 percentage point higher in rural than in urban areas.
The role of the household head’s sex and age
In one-third of these sub-Saharan African countries, the prevalence of underweight was higher for
children living with a female household head than for children living with a male household head (see
Figure 2.15). Namibia experienced the most variation, with an underweight prevalence of 28% among
children living with a male household head and 20% among children living with a female household
head, a difference of 8 percentage points (see Table 2.4).
The prevalence of underweight was higher for children living with a household head at least age
50 in half of these countries (see Figure 2.16). Burundi (household head under age 50: 34% versus
household head age 50 or older: 40%) and Namibia (20% versus 26%) had the largest variation—around
six percentage points (see Table 2.4).
Variations during the last 13 years
As Table 2.4 indicates, in the last 13 years the prevalence of underweight has decreased in all 18
countries with two surveys, with the exception of Kenya. The greatest reductions occurred in Burkina
Faso (2003: 38% and 2010: 30%), Rwanda (2005: 23% and 2010: 15%), and Zambia (2001-02: 28% and
2007: 19%), a difference of more than 7 percentage points in each case (see Figures 2.17 and 2.18).
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