Prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting among young children with a significant cognitive delay in 47 low and middle-income countries

Emerson, Eric and Savage, A. and Llewellyn, G (2020) Prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting among young children with a significant cognitive delay in 47 low and middle-income countries. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64 (2). pp. 93-102. ISSN 0964-2633

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Abstract

Background Undernutrition in early childhood is associated with a range of negative outcomes across the lifespan. Little is known about the prevalence of exposure to undernutrition among young children with significant cognitive delay. Method Secondary analysis of data collected on 161 188 three‐ and four‐year‐old children in 47 low‐income and middle‐income countries in Rounds 4–6 of UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Of these, 12.3% (95% confidence interval 11.8–12.8%) showed evidence of significant cognitive delay. Results In both middle‐income and low‐income countries, significant cognitive delay was associated with an increased prevalence of exposure to three indicators of undernutrition (underweight, wasting and stunting). Overall, children with significant cognitive delay were more than twice as likely than their peers to be exposed to severe underweight, severe wasting and severe stunting. Among children with significant cognitive delay (and after controlling for country economic classification group), relative household wealth was the strongest and most consistent predictor of exposure to undernutrition. Conclusions Given that undernutrition in early childhood is associated with a range of negative outcomes in later life, it is possible that undernutrition in early childhood may play an important role in accounting for health inequalities and inequities experienced by people with significant cognitive delay in low‐income and middle‐income countries.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Emerson, E., Savage, A., and Llewellyn, G. ( 2020) Prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting among young children with a significant cognitive delay in 47 low‐income and middle‐income countries. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64: 93– 102. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12698 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jir.12698 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2728
Subjects:
?? clinical neurologyrehabilitationpsychiatry and mental healthneurology ??
ID Code:
139938
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
10 Jan 2020 16:25
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 11:52