Objectives
Recent data on low and middle income countries has shown that micronutrient deficiencies are still significant at the same time overweight is becoming a public health concern causing a double burden of disease. In general maternal education has shown strong association with childrens health outcomes such as stunting, anemia and underweight. However, there is limited literature that has used maternal education in developing countries to understand its relationship with overweight in children. The aim of this study is to shed some light on the association between mothers education level and early feeding types on childhoods overweight.
Methods
We combined 87 Demographic Health Surveys from 2006-2014 including 100,000 children aged 6 to 23 months. We ran multilevel regression models with survey year and community fixed effects. A sub analyses was done over subjects with available blood hemoglobin levels.
Results
In contrast to what we found in stunting, anemia and underweight maternal education was not associated with lower rates of overweight in children. We found a strong association between maternal overweight, stunting and anemia on children respective health outcome. Breastfeeding status, consumption on fortified baby food and fruits and vegetables were associated with lower rates of overweigh. Infant formula, fortified baby food and fruits and vegetable were associated with lower rates of stunting and anemia.
Conclusions
The association between maternal education and overweight should be better understood. Probably cultural belief on childs healthy weight are bias towards overweight. Maternal characteristics contribute largely on child health outcomes including weight status.
