Heterogeneity of child nutritional status between households: A comparisonof six sub-Saharan African countries

Using cross-sectional data from Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, a nd Zimbabwe, a multilevel analysis was performed to determine the extent of correlation of nutritional status between children in the same family and geographical area. Weight-for-age z-scores were used as a measure of nutrit ional status for children up to three years of age. The percentage of child ren who were under-weight ranged from 16 in Zimbabwe up to 36 in Nigeria. T he effects of socioeconomic factors and individual characteristics on nutri tional status between countries varied. However in all six countries, the c hild's age was the most important factor associated with nutritional status . A clustering effect at the household level was found in all six countries , ranging from 24 per cent in Tanzania and Zimbabwe to 40 per cent in Malaw i. There was also a significant, but smaller, clustering effect at communit y level for Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia.