Spatial Inequality in Undernutrition Among Under-Five Children in Zimbabwe

Child undernutrition is a global health problem, with one in every four children being stunted. Children who are stunted, wasted, or underweight are more likely to have long-term health effects, including infant and under-five mortality, than those who are not. Although prior studies examined the determinants and the effects of stunting, less is known about the spatial inequality of child undernutrition in developing countries. Using the nationally representative data from the 2010/2011 and 2015 Demographic Health Survey, the paper estimated the spatial inequality and determinants of undernutrition among under-five children in Zimbabwe. The analysis carried out using thematic maps and Pooled OLS analysis. Found that spatial inequality and spatial autocorrelation in stunting, wasting, and underweight exist in Zimbabwe; hotspots and coldspots in undernutrition were present in 2010 and 2015. Aridity, number of wet days, skilled worker availability, precipitation, perception of distance to the health facility, and women's education in the cluster were associated with child undernutrition. Therefore, policies to reduce inequality and child undernutrition should be need-based, that is, the clusters and districts with high child undernutrition should be prioritised. Policymakers should consider factors contributing to child nutrition to ensure that children have healthy adult lives and well-being through a healthy early life, enabling proper physical and cognitive development.