What Explains the Large Disparity in Child Stunting in the Philippines? A Decomposition Analysis

• Main Authors: Ulep, Valerie Gilbert T, Uy, Jhanna, Casas, Lyle Daryll
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2021
• Subjects: malnutrition; stunting; inequality; Philippines; Oaxaca-Blinder; Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition; Inequality and Stratification; Social Welfare
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/hs-faculty-pubs/12; https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/abs/what-explains-the-large-disparity-in-child-stunting-in-the-philippines-a-decomposition-analysis/31833E6246F03A743199AB1E5276574C
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Objective:About a third of under-five Filipino children are stunted, with significant socio-economic inequality. This study aims to quantify factors that explain the large gap in stunting between poor and non-poor Filipino children. Design:Using the 2015 Philippine National Nutrition Survey (NNS), we conducted a linear probability model to examine the determinants of child stunting then an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to explain the factors contributing to the gap in stunting between poor and non-poor children. Setting:Philippines Participants:1, 881 children aged 6-23 months Results:The overall stunting prevalence was 38.5% with significant gap between poor and non-poor (45.0% vs. 32.0%). Maternal height, education, and maternal nutrition status account for 26%, 18%, and 17% of stunting inequality, respectively. These are followed by quality of prenatal care (12%), dietary diversity (12%), and iron supplementation in children (5%). Conclusions:Maternal factors account for more than 50% of the gap in child stunting in the Philippines. This signifies the critical role of maternal biological and socio-economic circumstances in improving the linear growth of children.