Malawi 2015-16

shift in the entire sample population’s nutritional status relative to the reference population. The farther
away the mean Z-scores are from 0, the higher the prevalence of undernutrition.
11.1.2 Data Collection
A total of 6,033 children under age 5 were eligible for height and weight measurements. The analysis of
height-for-age indices includes 94% of eligible children with complete and valid height measurement and
age data. Analysis of weight-for-height indices includes 95% of eligible children with complete and valid
height and weight measurements. Analysis of weight-for-age indices includes 96% of eligible children
with complete and valid weight measurement and age data.
11.1.3 Levels of Child Malnutrition
According to the 2015-16 MDHS, 37% of children
under age 5 are stunted or too short for their age.
This is a sign of chronic undernutrition. Three
percent of children under age 5 are wasted (too thin
for their height), which is a sign of acute
undernutrition, while 5% of children under age 5 are
overweight, which is a sign of over nutrition. In
addition, 12% are underweight or too thin for their
age (Table 11.1).
Trends: The prevalence of stunting and underweight
has decreased markedly since 1992, with the greatest
decrease in stunting between 2010 (47%) and 2015-
16 (37%). Over this same time period, changes in the
prevalence of wasting and overweight have been
small, although the prevalence of each is at its
lowest point since 1992 (Figure 11.1).
Figure 11.1 Trends in nutritional status
of children
Percentage of children under age 5 who
are malnourished
55 55
53
24
20
17
Underweight
13 12
9
8
9 8
5 Overweight
6
Wasted 7 6
4 3
1992 2000 2004 2010 2015-16
47
Stunted
37
Patterns by background characteristics
• The prevalence of stunting generally increases with a child’s age, and peaks at 42-45% at age 18-47
months (Table 11.1).
• Over half of children who were reported to be very small at birth are stunted.
• Children born from thin mothers (BMI less than
18.5) are more likely to be stunted, wasted, or
underweight than children born to mothers with
normal BMI or those who are overweight/obese.
• Stunting is higher among children in rural areas
(39%) than children in urban areas (25%).
• Forty-two percent of children born to mothers
with no education are stunted compared with
12% of children born to mothers with more than
secondary education.
• Forty-six percent of children in the lowest
wealth quintile are stunted compared with 24%
in the highest wealth quintile (Figure 11.2).
Figure 11.2 Stunting in children by
household wealth
46
Percentage of children under age 5 who
are stunted
40
37
33
24
Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest
Poorest
Wealthiest
Nutrition of Children and Women • 161