Munalula, Kekelwa2024-07-182024-07-182023-02Munalula, Kekelwa. (2023). An investigation of the determinants of childhood stunting in Zambia [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38962https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38962Thesis presented in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Management (Development and Economics) to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023Background Stunting in Zambia is a prevalent public health concern that can be attributed to multiple factors. Understanding the risk factors for stunting in children under the age of five is critical for developing nutritional intervention programs and strategies. As a result, this study aimed to analyze the marginal effects of the underlying determinants of child nutrition on Child stunting levels in Zambia. Method This study employed secondary data sources from Zambian demography and health surveys from six surveys. Relevant data were extracted from Kids Record (KR) and the corresponding Household Record (PR) file for the final analysis; survey rounds between 1992 up to 2018 were included in the study. Binary logistic regression model was used to describe the determinants and their association with childhood stunting. Further Marginal analysis was used to establish the marginal effects associated with the determinants Result Children living in low social economic conditions, children who reside in urban areas, have healthcare access challenges, born in non-medical facility, and whose mothers had lower than secondary education were more likely to be stunted. Further, narrow birth intervals, and low birth weight were associated with an increased occurrence of stunting Conclusion Stunting is the outcome of an intricate interaction of determinants. Wealth index, maternal education, maternal nutrition, birth weight, place of birth, birth interval and source of drinking water were found to have the highest marginal effects on childhood stunting. Therefore, policy makers should consider these determinants in the design of nutrition intervention programs.en© 2023 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.StuntingDeterminantsZambiaChildUCTDSDG-8: Decent work and economic growthDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg