Table 3. Population-Attributable Fractions for Risk Factors Associated With Severe Stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2014-2021.
| Factor | Proportion of exposure, % (95% CI) | Adjusted RR (95% CI) | PAF, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child | |||
| Recent diarrheal episodes | |||
| No | 84.9 (84.6 to 85.2) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Yes | 15.1 (14.8 to 15.5) | 1.19 (1.14 to 1.24) | 2.8 (2.0 to 3.6) |
| Dairy products consumption | |||
| No | 84.6 (84.2 to 85.0) | 1.31 (1.24 to 1.39) | 20.8 (16.8 to 24.9) |
| Yes | 15.4 (15.0 to 15.8) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Maternal | |||
| Body mass indexa | |||
| Normal weight | 53.9 (53.3 to 54.4) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Underweight | 7.8 (7.5 to 8.1) | 1.21 (1.15 to 1.27) | 1.6 (1.1 to 2.1) |
| Overweight or obesity | 38.2 (37.5 to 38.9) | 0.73 (0.70 to 0.77) | −11.5 (−12.7 to −9.8) |
| Educational level | |||
| No formal education | 39.4 (38.5 to 40.2) | 1.71 (1.61 to 1.82) | 21.9 (19.0 to 24.8) |
| Primary education | 35.0 (34.4 to 35.6) | 1.34 (1.26 to 1.43) | 10.6 (8.2 to 13.3) |
| Secondary or higher | 25.6 (25.0 to 26.2) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Antenatal care | |||
| None | 11.1 (10.5 to 11.6) | 1.41 (1.33 to 1.48) | 4.4 (3.4 to 5.3) |
| 1-3 Visits | 34.1 (33.6 to 34.6) | 1.14 (1.09 to 1.19) | 4.6 (2.9 to 6.2) |
| ≥4 Visits | 54.9 (54.2 to 55.5) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Place of birth | |||
| Home | 36.1 (35.2 to 37.0) | 1.25 (1.19 to 1.30) | 8.3 (6.3 to 10.0) |
| Health facility | 63.9 (63.0 to 64.8) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Household | |||
| Wealth index | |||
| Lowest | 44.1 (43.3 to 45.0) | 1.14 (1.08 to 1.20) | 5.8 (3.4 to 8.0) |
| Middle | 20.0 (19.5 to 20.4) | 1.09 (1.02 to 1.15) | 1.8 (0.4 to 3.0) |
| Highest | 35.9 (35.1 to 36.8) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Type of toilet system | |||
| Not improved | 55.0 (54.1 to 55.9) | 1.07 (1.02 to 1.11) | 3.7 (1.1 to 5.8) |
| Improved | 45.6 (44.7 to 46.5) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
| Type of cooking fuel | |||
| Not cleaned | 87.8 (87.2 to 88.4) | 1.12 (1.03 to 1.22) | 9.5 (2.6 to 16.3) |
| Cleaned | 12.2 (11.6 to 12.7) | 1 [Reference] | [Reference] |
Abbreviations: PAF, population-attributable fraction; RR, relative risk.
a
Calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Underweight is defined as less than 18.5; normal weight, 18.5 to 24.9; overweight or obese, 25.0 or greater.