Parental Education and Child Nutrition Outcome in Liberia

Abstract

Stunting is a condition characterized by persistent undernutrition, often due to poverty, poor maternal health, and inappropriate early-life care. This nutrition indicator is still of public health significance in Liberia. Using data from the Liberia Demographic Health Survey (LDHS 2019 2020), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey, this study aimed to explore the association between parental education and childhood stunting in Liberia. Stunting was defined as a height for age Z-score (HAZ) ≤ −2 using WHO criteria. Parental education was defined as a) having both parents with no education; b) having at least one parent with some education but less than secondary education and above; and c) having both parents with at least a secondary education and above. In the study, we described the data and identified patterns using univariate analysis. We checked relationships between different factors using bivariate analysis. Lastly, we used binary logistic regression to understand how parental education is associated with stunting in children. The result shows that approximately 31% of the children are stunted in Liberia, which is far above the WHO's measured to reduce stunting. Stunting was determined based on the height-for-age z score (HAZ). A child was classified as stunted if the HAZ was less than -2 standard deviations from the WHO child growth standard median. These z-scores were computed using WHO Anthropometric software. Mothers who have attained primary and Incomplete Secondary Education make up 28.46%, and those with completed Secondary and Above education constitute 23.15% respectively. Descriptive analysis showed that 19.2% of fathers had attained primary education, while 49.9% had attained secondary education or higher. Children who have both parents with secondary and above education constituted 20.19%. Among mothers, 28% had primary or incomplete secondary education, while 23% had completed secondary or higher education. For fathers, 19% had primary education, with approximately 50% having secondary or higher education. About a fifth of the children had both parents with at least a secondary education. After adjusting the selected socio-demographic and economic variables, it was observed that children with both parents possessing at least a secondary education exhibited reduced odds (lower likelihood) of experiencing stunted growth compared to those whose both parents had no formal education [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.68; Relative Standard Error (RSE): 0.12; p=0.03]. Findings suggest a protective association between parental educational attainment and children’s nutritional status. The study buttresses the importance of formal education, particularly above secondary education, which should not focus on mothers alone but also on fathers, to increase children's nutrition and health outcomes in the future