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Economic and Social Determinants of Micronutrient Consumption and Supplementation Among Children Under Five Years in Cameroon

Received: 30 May 2024     Accepted: 8 July 2024     Published: 23 July 2024
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Abstract

Malnutrition among children less than five years is an important public health challenge in resources limited countries. This study analyzes the economic and social determinants of micronutrient consumption and supplementation among Cameroonian’s children under five years. A cross-sectional study design was undertaken using a stratified nationwide, two-level sampling with a sample of 4,074 children under five years and their mothers. Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model with the level of statistical significance set at p<0.05. The slightly majority of children were male (50.8%). Children in age groups older than 23 months were less likely (OR<1; p<0.01) to be consuming and/or supplemented with micronutrients compared to children aged 6 to 23 months. Children of mothers of middle and high income quintiles were more likely to be consuming and/or supplemented with micronutrients compared to children of mothers of low and very low income quintiles, while those in the very high income quintiles were less likely (OR=0.994 p>0.05). Children of mothers with low (primary) and average (secondary) education were likely (OR=0.854 and 0.870 respectively), while children of mothers with high (tertiary) education were non-significantly more likely (OR=1.093; p>0.05) to be consuming and/or supplemented with micronutrients compared to children of non-educated mothers. Overall, these study’s findings showed that the gender of the child, the child's birth order, the children from married mothers, the education’s level of mothers, standard of living, the non-use of any contraceptive method by mothers with intention to use one, employment, religion, and the children from mothers in the low, middle and high income quintiles were significant determinants associated with the function of micronutriments’ consumption and/or supplementation in children under five in Cameroon. Policy makers should therefore strive to improve the socio-economic conditions of women while raising their awareness of the harmful effects of child malnutrition.

Published in European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11
Page(s) 81-93
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Economic and Social Determinants, Children Under Five Years, Micronutriments, Consumption, Supplementation, Cameroon

References
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Cite This Article
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    Njoumemi, Z., Fadimatou, A., Njoya, I. N., Manouore, R. (2024). Economic and Social Determinants of Micronutrient Consumption and Supplementation Among Children Under Five Years in Cameroon. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12(4), 81-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11

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    ACS Style

    Njoumemi, Z.; Fadimatou, A.; Njoya, I. N.; Manouore, R. Economic and Social Determinants of Micronutrient Consumption and Supplementation Among Children Under Five Years in Cameroon. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2024, 12(4), 81-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11

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    AMA Style

    Njoumemi Z, Fadimatou A, Njoya IN, Manouore R. Economic and Social Determinants of Micronutrient Consumption and Supplementation Among Children Under Five Years in Cameroon. Eur J Prev Med. 2024;12(4):81-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11,
      author = {Zakariaou Njoumemi and Altine Fadimatou and Iliassou Nkariepoun Njoya and Rahimatou Manouore},
      title = {Economic and Social Determinants of Micronutrient Consumption and Supplementation Among Children Under Five Years in Cameroon
    },
      journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
      volume = {12},
      number = {4},
      pages = {81-93},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20241204.11},
      abstract = {Malnutrition among children less than five years is an important public health challenge in resources limited countries. This study analyzes the economic and social determinants of micronutrient consumption and supplementation among Cameroonian’s children under five years. A cross-sectional study design was undertaken using a stratified nationwide, two-level sampling with a sample of 4,074 children under five years and their mothers. Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model with the level of statistical significance set at p0.05). Children of mothers with low (primary) and average (secondary) education were likely (OR=0.854 and 0.870 respectively), while children of mothers with high (tertiary) education were non-significantly more likely (OR=1.093; p>0.05) to be consuming and/or supplemented with micronutrients compared to children of non-educated mothers. Overall, these study’s findings showed that the gender of the child, the child's birth order, the children from married mothers, the education’s level of mothers, standard of living, the non-use of any contraceptive method by mothers with intention to use one, employment, religion, and the children from mothers in the low, middle and high income quintiles were significant determinants associated with the function of micronutriments’ consumption and/or supplementation in children under five in Cameroon. Policy makers should therefore strive to improve the socio-economic conditions of women while raising their awareness of the harmful effects of child malnutrition.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Economic and Social Determinants of Micronutrient Consumption and Supplementation Among Children Under Five Years in Cameroon
    
    AU  - Zakariaou Njoumemi
    AU  - Altine Fadimatou
    AU  - Iliassou Nkariepoun Njoya
    AU  - Rahimatou Manouore
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11
    T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    SP  - 81
    EP  - 93
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8230
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20241204.11
    AB  - Malnutrition among children less than five years is an important public health challenge in resources limited countries. This study analyzes the economic and social determinants of micronutrient consumption and supplementation among Cameroonian’s children under five years. A cross-sectional study design was undertaken using a stratified nationwide, two-level sampling with a sample of 4,074 children under five years and their mothers. Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model with the level of statistical significance set at p0.05). Children of mothers with low (primary) and average (secondary) education were likely (OR=0.854 and 0.870 respectively), while children of mothers with high (tertiary) education were non-significantly more likely (OR=1.093; p>0.05) to be consuming and/or supplemented with micronutrients compared to children of non-educated mothers. Overall, these study’s findings showed that the gender of the child, the child's birth order, the children from married mothers, the education’s level of mothers, standard of living, the non-use of any contraceptive method by mothers with intention to use one, employment, religion, and the children from mothers in the low, middle and high income quintiles were significant determinants associated with the function of micronutriments’ consumption and/or supplementation in children under five in Cameroon. Policy makers should therefore strive to improve the socio-economic conditions of women while raising their awareness of the harmful effects of child malnutrition.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 4
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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon; Policy and Programme Analysis Division, Health Economics and Policy Research and Evaluation for Development Results Group (HEREG), Yaounde, Cameroon; Economic and Social Division, Strategic Purchasing for System Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Consulting Group, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Garoua, Garoua, Cameron; Policy and Programme Analysis Division, Health Economics and Policy Research and Evaluation for Development Results Group (HEREG), Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Economic and Social Division, Strategic Purchasing for System Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Consulting Group, Yaounde, Cameroon; Africa Innovation Technologies & Services, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Policy and Programme Analysis Division, Health Economics and Policy Research and Evaluation for Development Results Group (HEREG), Yaounde, Cameroon; Africa Innovation Technologies & Services, Yaounde, Cameroon

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