| Malnutrition among women in sub-Saharan Africa: rural-urban disparity. |
| Authors: |
Uthman OA, Aremu O. |
| Source: |
Rural and Remote Health, 2008; 8(2):931. |
| Topic(s): |
Inequality
Nutrition
Women's health
|
| Country: |
More than one region
Multiple Regions
|
| Published: |
JUN 2008 |
| Abstract: |
Introduction: Malnutrition is a serious public health problem, particularly in developing countries, linked to a substantial increase
in the risk of mortality and morbidity. Women and young children are most often affected. Rural disadvantage is a known factor,
but little attention has been paid to rural-urban disparity among women. To provide a reliable source of information for policymakers, the current study used nationally representative data from 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to update knowledge about
the prevalence malnutrition and its rural-urban disparities among women. The data sources were the demographic and health surveys of 26 countries conducted between 1995 and 2006.
Methods: The methods included meta-analysis, meta-regression, sub-group and sensitivity.
Results: Overall, rural women were 68% more likely to be malnourished compared with their urban counterparts. In the metaregression analysis, sub-region, sample size, and the year the study was conducted explained the observed heterogeneity.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis provided usable data for women in sub-Saharan Africa. The magnitude of rural-urban
malnutrition disparity revealed provides a baseline that will be of assistance to clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers in the detection, prevention and treatment of malnutrition among rural women. |
| Web: |
http://www.rrh.org.au |
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