Risk factors of stunting in preschool children: a case-control study

This article seeks to establish risk factors for mild and moderate stunting among preschool children attending public daycare centers. It involves a case-control study with 67 pairs of children. Cases defined as children with height/age between -1 and -2 Z-scores were paired with controls between -1 Z- score and the median, while cases with height/age < -2 Z- scores were paired with controls with height/age > median to + 1 Z- score. The sex and age of the child was used for pairing purposes. The final model of hierarchical multivariate analysis indicated a greater chance of stunting in the following groups of preschoolers: family income < 1/2 Minimum Wage, squatted/courtesy house, number of individuals in the household > 6, maternal age at child's birth < 20 years, low maternal stature, incomplete immunization program, low birth weight. Stunting is determined by adverse socioeconomic conditions and the characteristics of children reflecting health care (maternal height and child variables).