Impact of Parent’s Education on Stunting of Children Age 6-59 Months in Tertiary Care Centre Hyderabad, Sindh

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a severe public health issue in all of Pakistan, especially in Sindh, where a considerable number of children < 60 months are impacted by chronic malnutrition. Educating the parents is recognized as a critical factor of positive child growth and appropriate nutrition.

Aim: This study Aimed to statistically determine the relationship of parent’s education and child stunting.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used for the study for the purpose of this study. Data was collected over a time period of October 2023 to March 2024, setting was Hyderabad and the participant children were aged between 6-59 months, totalling to 422. Data collection used nonrandom purposive sampling technique. Body measurements were taken following the anthropometric standards as per WHO for stunting determination i.e., height-for-age Z p < 2 SD. A questionnaire regarding education of the parents was administered and Chi-square tests were used to measure variables. Statistical significance was determined at p ≤ 0.05.

Results: Out of the 422 children surveyed, 173, or 41%, exhibited stunted growth. However, no significant relationships were established regarding stunted growth and the mother's formal education level (p = 0.628), informal education (p = 0.279), or whether the mother was literate (p = 0.493). The same holds true for fathers: their lack of formal education (p = 0.497), informal education (p = 0.297), or literate status (p = 0.297) and their children’s growth. Even though stunted growth was more prevalent among children whose parents had lower levels of education, the statistical significance of the data was weak.

Conclusion: The absence of significant relationships among the different education levels of the parents and stunted growth shows that there may be other more dominant reasons impacting the child’s growth. These reasons may be attributed to the family’s low income, unstable food supply, poor household sanitation, and lack of improved healthcare.

Recommendations: To minimize the prevalence of stunted growth, it is advised that there be improved multi-sector collaboration for nutrition education, poverty reduction, support for caregivers, and better health services. Community and health facility parental education initiatives are advised.