Synergistic Relationship between Child Malnutrition and Morbidity among the Urban Poor

Hildah M. Essendi, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
John G. Cleland, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Martin K. Mutua, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

Data from a cohort study of about 1,000 children will be used to analyze the synergistic relationship between malnutrition and morbidity among children in two informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya. Household interviews with mothers/guardians of children born from September 2006 are conducted and the weights and heights of the children taken. The World Health Organization reference standards will be used to calculate the z-scores. Questions asked include whether the child suffered from one of the major illnesses in the last week preceding the survey. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of nutritional status and morbidity variables will be done. Linear transition modeling approach will also be used to check how morbidity in current round is affected by malnutrition in previous round and vice versa. Further, usual control variables such as child’s age, sex, birth order, maternal age, and socio-economic status will be included.