Household and Commuinty Socio-economic and Environmental Determinants of Child Nutritional Status in Cameroon

This study was conducted to determine the household and community level socio-economic and environmental factors associated with child nutritional status in Cameroon, and changes in the effects of these factors during the 1990s economic crisis. Age-specific effects of household economic status on child nutrition was also considered. Child nutritional status was measured by weight-for-age (WAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) z scores. Data was obtained from demographic and health surveys conducted in 1991 and 1998. Average WAZ and HAZ declined respectively from -0.70 standard deviation below the median to -0.83 and from -1.03 SD to -1.14 SD between 1991 and 1998. These declines occurred mostly among boys, children over 12 months of age and those of low socioeconomic status. Both household and community factors have significant impact on child health in Cameroon. Understanding these relationships can facilitate design of age and community- specific intervention programs