Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Tolulope Osoba

Abstract

Children under 5 years of age in Guyana are at an increased risk for inadequate growth. According to the United Nations Development Programme, 1 out of 3 children of preschool age are undernourished globally. This is a major public health concern as undernourishment in children under 5 years can lead to lifelong health complications. The study assessed the relationship between inadequate growth and urban classification in children under 5 years in Guyana, South America, after controlling for the following variables: mother's level of education, mother's age at birth of the child, household size, wealth, and marital status. The study framework combined the social ecological theory/model with concepts of malnutrition. The study used data from the 2009 Guyana Demographic and Health Survey, a quantitative, cross-sectional study. Logistic regression was used to test for a statistically significant association between inadequate growth and urban classification. There was a statistically significant bivariate relationship between inadequate growth and urban classification, which was no longer significant after controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Age, OR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.96, 1.00; p =.033 was marginally significant and wealth, OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.37, 0.80; p = .005 were statistically significant, after controlling for sociodemographic covariates. There was a significant relationship between urban classification and mother's age at birth of child, mother's level of education, wealth quintile, and marital status. This study, which identified the need for targeted interventions, such as education, job placement, adequate housing, and appropriate nutrition, based on mother's age and wealth, will lead to positive social change in Guyana.

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