Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II
Abstract Background Stunting in early life is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among children under 5, as well as impaired health and educational and economic performance in later life. However, few studies have investigated risk factors associated with stunting using nationwide rep...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Physiological Anthropology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00402-w |
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| author | Soulattana Vongsakit Kumiko Ohara Yuki Fujita Akihiro Takada Katsuyasu Kouda |
| author_facet | Soulattana Vongsakit Kumiko Ohara Yuki Fujita Akihiro Takada Katsuyasu Kouda |
| author_sort | Soulattana Vongsakit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Stunting in early life is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among children under 5, as well as impaired health and educational and economic performance in later life. However, few studies have investigated risk factors associated with stunting using nationwide representative data in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The present study investigated the association of the household wealth index with stunting among children under 5 in Lao PDR using data from the Lao Social Indicator Survey II (LSIS II). Methods The present cross-sectional study used secondary data from the LSIS II in 2017. The survey used multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, covering all 18 provinces with 1170 clusters (village), resulting in a sample size of 23,400 households. The final analysis included 11,339 (weighted) children under 5. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine associated factors. Results Risk factors significantly associated with stunting were no health insurance coverage, minority ethnic groups, having ≥ 7 family members in the household, a poor household wealth index, having ≥ 2 children under 5 in the household, living in rural areas, living in the southern part, and low birth weight. Among them, household wealth index was significantly associated with stunting, independent of other socioeconomic risk factors. Conclusions The household wealth index was significantly associated with child stunting. Given the high prevalence of stunting in Lao PDR, there may be a need for the government to implement programs to improve household socioeconomic status in order to address stunting in Lao PDR. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db557b6e2ba246ee9b81f46fc3c21a76 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1880-6805 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Physiological Anthropology |
| spelling | doaj-art-db557b6e2ba246ee9b81f46fc3c21a762025-08-20T03:46:16ZengBMCJournal of Physiological Anthropology1880-68052025-07-0144111510.1186/s40101-025-00402-wHousehold wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey IISoulattana Vongsakit0Kumiko Ohara1Yuki Fujita2Akihiro Takada3Katsuyasu Kouda4 Center of Nutrition, Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Ministry of HealthDepartment of Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kansai Medical UniversityDepartment of Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kansai Medical UniversityDepartment of Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kansai Medical UniversityDepartment of Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kansai Medical UniversityAbstract Background Stunting in early life is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among children under 5, as well as impaired health and educational and economic performance in later life. However, few studies have investigated risk factors associated with stunting using nationwide representative data in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The present study investigated the association of the household wealth index with stunting among children under 5 in Lao PDR using data from the Lao Social Indicator Survey II (LSIS II). Methods The present cross-sectional study used secondary data from the LSIS II in 2017. The survey used multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, covering all 18 provinces with 1170 clusters (village), resulting in a sample size of 23,400 households. The final analysis included 11,339 (weighted) children under 5. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine associated factors. Results Risk factors significantly associated with stunting were no health insurance coverage, minority ethnic groups, having ≥ 7 family members in the household, a poor household wealth index, having ≥ 2 children under 5 in the household, living in rural areas, living in the southern part, and low birth weight. Among them, household wealth index was significantly associated with stunting, independent of other socioeconomic risk factors. Conclusions The household wealth index was significantly associated with child stunting. Given the high prevalence of stunting in Lao PDR, there may be a need for the government to implement programs to improve household socioeconomic status in order to address stunting in Lao PDR.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00402-wEpidemiologySocioeconomicStunting |
| spellingShingle | Soulattana Vongsakit Kumiko Ohara Yuki Fujita Akihiro Takada Katsuyasu Kouda Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II Journal of Physiological Anthropology Epidemiology Socioeconomic Stunting |
| title | Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II |
| title_full | Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II |
| title_fullStr | Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II |
| title_full_unstemmed | Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II |
| title_short | Household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5: a cross-sectional analysis of the Lao Social Indicator Survey II |
| title_sort | household wealth index is associated with stunting among children under 5 a cross sectional analysis of the lao social indicator survey ii |
| topic | Epidemiology Socioeconomic Stunting |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00402-w |
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